This paper examines how conflict, state fragility, and climate change intersect to compound disaster risk in the Arab region, drawing on field observations from across Libya, Morocco, Sudan, and Syria, expert consultations, and regional policy dialogue. Analysis of recent earthquakes and floods in these countries reveals that catastrophic outcomes were driven less by the hazards themselves than by governance failures-the prioritisation of elite interests over public safety, chronic underinvestment in prevention, and the politicisation of humanitarian response. While regional platforms in Doha, Qatar, and Kuwait have articulated growing consensus on the need for prevention-oriented disaster risk reduction (DRR), significant obstacles remain, including competition among states, mistrust between governments and civil society, and the structural constraints facing conflict-affected countries. The paper contributes to an emerging literature on DRR in fragile and conflict-affected settings by offering comparative analysis from across a region that remains under-represented in mainstream disaster scholarship.

Can pre-disaster community resilience enhance post-disaster recovery among older adults? A natural experiment in Iwanuma City after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

ABSTRACT Flood and drought disasters are often assessed independently, resulting in fragmented adaptation strategies and limited consideration of their interactions. This study presents an integrated drought–flood risk assessment framework that combines GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) with hydrologically derived indicators to jointly assess both disasters. The framework integrates hazard, vulnerability, and exposure components, and introduces a transition layer to quantify the temporal linkage between drought and subsequent flood events. Applied to the Muda River Basin in Malaysia, the results identify the southwestern basin as a key hotspot driven by intensive land use activities and high population exposure. Incorporating the transition layer increases high-risk areas from 14.60% to 25.5% of the basin, highlighting the importance of sequential hazard dynamics. This framework addresses a critical gap in multi-hazard assessment and supports climate adaptation, spatial planning, and disaster risk reduction.

Citizens’ proper response and responsible behaviour is crucial to cope with natural hazards. CON.I.RI. (Convivere con i Rischi Naturali - Living with Natural Risks) is an educational path on seismic and hydrogeological risk reduction by Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) within the FCR (Future Responsible Citizens) and FCR 2.0 environmental educational projects. The on-going educational initiative was designed and started online during the COVID-19 pandemic to engage classrooms of all order schools of Sicilia region in distance learning. The main challenge is favoring the school-based disaster preparedness, as well as the difference in lifesaving skills in case of earthquake, tsunami, flood and landslides. The natural risk mitigation approach is based on full engagement of students in activities able to create skills for life in risk understanding to trigger transfomative learning. About 300 students were involved in the first year (2020-2021), 2200 students in the second year (2021-2022), more than 4500 ones in the third year (2022-2023) and about 4000 students in the forth year (2023-2024) and in the fifth year (2024-2025) of activities. The crucial phase to prevent damage is focused on reflecting with researcher on natural and human-made disasters on the environment. A simultaneous online race between all classes closes the educational program in an amusing cooperative way to develop lifesaving skills playing thematic digital serious games on safe behavior.

Assessing ecosystem services capacity and landscape sensitivity under rapid urbanization in a flood-prone lowland.

ABSTRACT Tropical forests are central to global sustainability, underpinning biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and disaster risk reduction. Yet, it remains unclear whether recent efforts have reduced tropical forest loss (TFL) and improved protection of ecologically and socially important areas. This study provides a global, spatially explicit assessment of TFL before (2011–2015) and after (2016–2022) the mid-2010s, a period coinciding with major global sustainability, climate, and biodiversity commitments. It examines how TFL relates to climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and disaster (landslide) risk reduction using an integrated ecosystem co-benefit index, as well as to tropical terrestrial protected areas (PAs). Although annual TFL exhibited a statistically significant downward trend during 2016–2022, average annual TFL was 34% higher than in 2011–2015, increasing from 11.69 ± 2.13 to 15.69 ± 2.45 Mha/year, with significant increases in tropical South America and Africa. Across both periods, higher TFL consistently occurred in areas with moderate ecosystem co-benefits. Despite an 8% expansion of PAs and their greater representation in high co-benefit areas, the average annual TFL within PAs increased by 71%, from 1.12 ± 0.19 to 1.92 ± 0.41 Mha/year, while the average annual share of TFL within PAs rose from 9.6 ± 0.5% to 12.2 ± 0.9%. These findings indicate that recent slowdowns in TFL are modest and insufficient to offset persistent pressures. This underscores the need to strengthen sustainable forest management by addressing the broader socio-economic and institutional conditions that drive and perpetuate TFL.

ABSTRACT Historical water management practices often hold lessons for the sustainability of contemporary environmental systems, especially in arid regions where freshwater resources are declining under anthropogenic stresses. This study examines 740 years of water management (1171–1911 CE) at the Longzici karst spring in North China, focusing on how integrated infrastructure, governance, and cultural practices addressed semi-arid water scarcity. Based on historical literature analysis and field surveys, this study has found that: (1) gradual channel expansion paired with flood-control measures were successful in balancing water supply demands and disaster-risk reduction; (2) a hierarchical organizational structure created equitable water allocation and assisted in conflict mediation; and (3) religious and cultural practices served to consolidate community consensus on water reverence and utilization. The system for the utilization of Longzici spring discharge provides actionable lessons for contemporary water management practices. It highlights shared values among diverse stakeholders through ritualization and collective community extending beyond immediate individual benefits.

Application of multi-resolution techniques, intelligent classification and semantic data fusion for the identification of oil spills in SAR imagery.

Prediction of complex geographical phenomena is central to geoscience, underpinning climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and resource management. A foundational principle guiding predictive learning is Tobler's First Law (TFL) of Geography. Although widely embedded in models ranging from spatial autoregression to deep learning, TFL is rarely examined in terms of its lag effect, how spatial and temporal lags jointly shape predictability. This gap constrains efforts to identify informative neighborhood sizes and memory lengths for predictive modeling. Here we introduce a predictability-based causal emergence framework that quantifies the information gain from incorporating different spatial and temporal lags. Applying this framework to global 2m temperature reanalysis data, we find that the most informative spatiotemporal context is regionally heterogeneous under the current experimental setting. Our results provide a principled approach to refining TFL in predictive modeling, offering new insights into how spatiotemporal lag effects contribute to the emergence of predictability in complex geographical phenomena.

This study critically examines post‐disaster recovery policies in Brazil and their short‐ and long‐term effects on marginalised populations, particularly those living in informal or precarious housing. Drawing on a mixed‐methods investigation conducted in collaboration with the Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens, the research analyses multi‐site and multi‐temporal climate‐related disasters in Petrópolis (2011, 2022, 2024) and São Sebastião (2023). Through interviews, surveys, spatial analyses, and participatory timelines, it contrasts institutional recovery narratives with the lived experiences of disaster‐affected communities. The findings demonstrate that dominant recovery frameworks—centred on rental subsidies and social housing—frequently reproduce displacement, exclusion, and renewed vulnerability. By prioritising the rapid provision of a ‘roof’ over community continuity, cultural adequacy, and territorial ties, these policies often generate post‐disaster deterritorialisation. The study argues for redress‐based recovery approaches that reconceptualise recovery not as a discrete policy stage, but as part of an ongoing transformative and context‐sensitive disaster risk reduction project.

Schools play a critical role in disaster risk reduction; however, preparedness efforts often overlook the unequal vulnerabilities associated with Gender, Disability, and Social Inclusion. This study addresses the lack of empirical evidence on how inclusively disaster preparedness is implemented within school-based disaster management structures, particularly the Safe School Disaster Unit (SSDU). Using a quantitative survey design, data were collected from senior high schools to assess levels of SSDU readiness, the integration of Gender, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles and the relationship between these two dimensions. This study used a quantitative design. Data were collected through questionnaires from 995 respondents across five schools and analysed using regression analysis. The findings reveal substantial variation in preparedness across schools, with public schools generally demonstrating higher levels of SSDU readiness and GEDSI integration than private schools. Statistical analysis further indicates a positive association between stronger SSDU implementation and higher levels of GEDSI integration, suggesting that schools with more established disaster management systems are better positioned to adopt inclusive practices. These results highlight persistent gaps in inclusive disaster preparedness and underscore the need to strengthen institutional systems and policies that embed GEDSI principles within school disaster risk reduction initiatives. The study contributes empirical evidence to inform more equitable and resilient safe school programming. Contribution: Disaster risk reduction strategies in school environments have so far focused on physical and structural aspects, whereas, on the other hand, there are aspects that have not been studied, such as Gender, Disability, and Social Inclusion. Therefore, it is important to know the implementation of safe schools by focusing on aspects of Gender, Disability, and Social Inclusion in order to realise school resilience to disasters in a fair, equal and sustainable manner.

Urban sustainability and disaster risk reduction: Assessing surface urban heat island intensity, thermal hotspots, and land surface temperature trends in Chennai, India

The ability to learn from past disasters is crucial for adaptation and disaster risk reduction, which is also fundamental to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, empirical evidence on how disaster losses interact with adaptive capacity remains limited. Drawing on panel data from 31 provincial regions in mainland China during 2012-2022, the study constructed a disaster loss index integrating population, economy, and agriculture dimensions and applied a capital approach to assess adaptive capacity. The coupling coordination degree model, combined with the fixed effects model, was applied to examine their interrelationship. The results indicate that (1) the disaster loss showed an overall stable trend but spiked in certain years due to extreme events, while adaptive capacity remained underdeveloped yet exhibited gradual improvement; (2) significant regional variations existed in the two systems, where only the central region achieved marginal coordination, while the eastern and western regions displayed opposite patterns of incoordination; and (3) disaster loss was not always a negative factor, as a positive association with adaptive capacity was primarily observed in the economically developed eastern region, suggesting a regional-specific wealth effect. These findings enhance the understanding of the dynamic interactions between disaster loss and adaptive capacity, offering insights for strengthening disaster resilience and promoting sustainable, high-quality development.

Investor preferences for biodiversity conservation and disaster risk reduction in sustainability bonds: evidence from Japan

A study on hydro-meteorological disaster risk reduction strategies of Rakhine ethnic minorities of Bangladesh

Exploring the disaster risk reduction and energy resilience benefits of coastal ecosystems and protected areas in Puerto Rico

To review the literature on nurses' competencies across disaster phases based on the International Council of Nurses' perspective and to identify knowledge gaps. Disasters, intensified by climate change, challenge the healthcare systems. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasises the need to reduce disaster risks and enhance resilience. Nurses are crucial in disaster management, providing critical care in emergency departments that operate continuously to treat the casualties. Beyond basic clinical skills, nurses need comprehensive competencies to respond to disasters effectively. The International Council of Nurses developed a disaster nursing competency framework in 2019; however, consensus and integration into practice are needed. Following the JBI's PRISMA-SCR guidelines, a three-stage search strategy was used across the PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. The research question was formulated using the population, concept, and context (PCC) frameworks. From 816 studies, data from 18 studies (1991-2022) across 13 countries were analysed, identifying 19 disaster nursing competencies and 76 interventions aligned with the ICN's eight domains. New competencies include family involvement during crises and spiritual care during and after disasters. Emphasis is placed on psychological skills to support injured individuals and address community psychosocial needs. This review maps the current literature on disaster nursing competencies, highlighting essential competencies and interventions while identifying knowledge gaps. New skills, such as family involvement and spiritual care, are emphasised. Psychological knowledge is crucial for addressing psychosocial needs of patients. Further consensus and integration of these competencies into nursing practice are necessary to improve disaster management and resilience in healthcare systems, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

ABSTRACT Rapid urbanization and climate change contribute to the increased vulnerability of informal urbanisation, making informal dwellers more prone to natural disasters. Nevertheless, informal communities show inbuilt resilience in coping with such catastrophic events. This research seeks to map and characterize vulnerability to natural hazards in informal settlements in South Africa. By combining drone imagery with collaborative mapping, this pilot study proposes a novel approach to enhance community resilience and co-design practical strategies for disaster management in informal settlements. The proposed approach seeks to stimulate a community-led response to risks, focusing on implementing early warning systems and using low-cost moisture and fire sensors, while showing how vulnerable communities can actively participate as co-researchers in disaster management planning. Findings show the value of participatory workshops, the establishment of community disaster committees, and the use of accessible communication channels to strengthen disaster risk education and awareness. This research highlighted the critical role of leadership and capacity building in informal communities as a key strategy for fostering community resilience and self-reliance, and advancing community-led approaches to risk management. By combining local and Indigenous knowledge with technical tools and community-driven approaches, this study presents a framework for inclusive disaster risk reduction in vulnerable settings.

ABSTRACT Community resilience plays a vital role in disaster mitigation. However, its integration into local policy frameworks remains limited, particularly in coastal areas of Indonesia. This study examines four resilience factors (disaster experience, knowledge, participation, and adaptation), using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data from 200 respondents were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis. The result emphasises access to disaster information, strengthening community networks, extending adaptive training, empowering households economically, and improving disaster data for risk prediction. This study provides insights into policies aligned with SDG 11, emphasising the importance of integrating community resilience into disaster risk reduction for sustainable settlements.

To evaluate the Disaster Safe Educational Unit (SPAB), internationally known as the Comprehensive School Safety (CSS) program, in DKI Jakarta, Indonesia focusing on disaster preparedness across different types of educational units. This study employed an evaluative mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data were analyzed using cross-tabulation and Chi-Square tests in IBM SPSS Statistics version 22. Semi-structured qualitative interviews with experts were conducted to support data triangulation. The study included 3672 schools in DKI Jakarta Province, Indonesia surveyed using an online instrument adapted from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) monitoring framework, covering three implementation pillars: disaster-safe facilities, disaster management in schools, and disaster risk reduction education. The findings indicate that while progress has been made in providing disaster-safe facilities, preparedness in disaster management and disaster risk reduction education remains limited. Notably, preschools were identified as a high-priority risk group due to regulatory exclusions and resource constraints. Key challenges include a lack of teaching materials, limited resources, and insufficient expertise. Although institutional support for the SPAB is high, implementation capacity across schools remains insufficient. This study highlights the need for inclusive regulatory reinforcement, targeted capacity building for early childhood education, and the formal integration of SPAB into school budgeting to ensure resilient learning environments.