UNU-EHS: 5 Facts on Disaster Risk and the SDGs
The global community continues to reel from the COVID-19 pandemic, and has also become increasingly aware of the impacts of natural hazards and the climate crisis. Yet, the global community has still not recognized the extent to which disaster risk may impact our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite the impact of risk on the SDGs, risk is not particularly well integrated. To highlight this issue, current and former UNU-EHS and MCII experts Jennifer Denno Cissé, Julia Plaß, and Simon Schütze share five facts on disaster risk and the SDGs.
United Nations University InstUNU-EHS and UNDRR launch the new report “Rethinking Risks in Times of COVID-19”
As world leaders are traveling to Bali to meet at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 and discuss how to better prevent and reduce current and future risks, the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and United Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) have launched the new report “Rethinking Risks in Times of COVID-19.”
Five facts on drought risk, from the UNU Lead Author of GAR Special Report on Drought 2021
Droughts affect millions of people and many domains, and incur costs that are mostly laid on the shoulders of the most vulnerable. Impacts are widespread, ranging from agricultural and energy production to human health and biodiversity, and even tourism. Climate change is aggravating the issue by increasing temperature and disrupting rainfall patterns, leading to more severe and frequent droughts in many regions in the world. As the world inches closer to getting 2°C above pre-industrial levels, we must better manage drought risks, understand root causes and take preventive action.
New InsuRisk Report focuses on social protection
Every year on 13 October the United Nations celebrates the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The General Assembly called for this day to raise awareness of the importance of reducing our risk to disasters. On this year’s DRR Day, UNU-EHS launched its latest InsuRisk Report: Disaster risk, social protection and readiness for insurance solutions.
New Podcast Episode on How Disasters are Interconnected
Our world today is facing an unprecedented level of extreme events impacting people and nature, evident in the ever-increasing frequency of severe weather events, epidemics and human-made disasters. In 2020/2021, the world witnessed a number of record-breaking disasters that showed us clearer than ever before how interconnected we are, for better or worse.
New Report by UNU-EHS: Disaster Risks in an Interconnected World
Nobody is an island. We are interconnected. Our actions have consequences − for all of us. As we become ever-more interconnected, so do the risks we share. To manage these risks, we need to understand why and how they are interconnected. Only then can we find appropriate solutions.
Media Advisory: Virtual press briefing for launch of new UN University report “Interconnected Disaster Risks 2020/2021”
When: Wednesday, 8 September 2021, 11.00 a.m. CET
Where: Virtual event. Please register here.
Available assets upon request: Embargoed media copy of the report, expert interviews, images, b-roll
New Vice-Rector for UNU-ViE and Director for UNU-EHS
As of 1 August 2020, Dr. Shen Xiaomeng assumed the role of UNU Vice-Rector in Europe (UNU-ViE) and Director of the UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). As the UNU Vice-Rector in Europe, Dr. Shen facilitates collaboration between UNU and stakeholders in and outside of the United Nations; contributes to high-level policy development with other United Nations entities and regional/national bodies; and guides UNU outreach efforts to Geneva-based UN entities, the European Commission, and European academic and research institutions.
UN-SPIDER Bonn International Conference: "Space-based Solutions for Disaster Management in Africa: Challenges, Applications, Partnerships"
The importance of using space technologies in the disaster management process has received growing global recognition in recent years. For example, the African Union outlined in its 2017 African Space Policy that among other things, space represents a unique opportunity for cooperation in using and sharing infrastructure and data to proactively respond to and manage natural hazards and disasters.