{"id":3243,"date":"2026-01-29T16:25:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/?p=3243"},"modified":"2026-01-29T16:25:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:25:19","slug":"disaster-risk-reduction-and-open-data-newsletter-january-2026-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/2026\/01\/29\/disaster-risk-reduction-and-open-data-newsletter-january-2026-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Disaster Risk Reduction and Open Data Newsletter: January 2026 Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The pulse of the planet<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The explosion of data offers new ways to understand the economy\u2014and change what gets measured, not just how.<\/p>\n

Digital technologies are redefining how we see and manage the global economy. As Kenneth\u202fCukier writes in\u00a0Finance\u202f&\u202fDevelopment<\/em>, the earth is developing a \u201cdigital nervous system\u201d through satellites, sensors, and AI that measure everything from deforestation and traffic to crop yields and emissions. These vast data streams give policymakers and businesses an almost live view of the planet\u2019s condition\u2014a continuous \u201cheartbeat\u201d of global activity. But Cukier notes that the benefits come with risks: interpreting billions of signals at once requires new rules of governance, privacy, and judgment to ensure that data enlightens decision\u2011making rather than distorts it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What is the global water cycle and how is it amplifying climate disasters?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

In the past few days, hundreds of bushfires have ignited in south-east Australia during an extreme heatwave. And communities in north Queensland have been lashed by heavy rain and flash flooding from ex-tropical Cyclone Koji. This is the seventh cyclone so far this season.<\/p>\n

Behind these disasters is a deeper and less visible influence: ongoing shifts in the global water cycle. Our latest report shows how changes in rainfall, air temperature and humidity combined to amplify water-related disasters across the world in 2025.<\/p>\n

These floods and fires are not simply isolated weather extremes, but signs of a water cycle that is being increasingly destabilised by global warming. The result: more volatile floods, droughts, and fires shaping new extremes worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Crisis data that saves lives<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

CRAF\u2019d drives faster, more targeted, and more dignified crisis action. Since inception, partners have committed over $40 million to crisis data, analytics, and AI, advancing the Fund\u2019s mission to finance, connect, and reimagine data that saves lives. CRAF\u2019d-funded data and insights help shape over $12 billion in emergency funding each year, with more than 96,000 users across 390 organizations using them to anticipate risks, prevent impacts, and respond when crises strike.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Major river delts are sinking faster than sea-level rise<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

A new global study led by Virginia Tech and published in\u00a0Nature<\/em>\u00a0finds human-driven land subsidence now outpacing sea-level rise in many of the planet\u2019s major river deltas. More than 236 million people live on these sinking floodplains, where water extraction, urban development, and sediment loss are driving the ground downward.<\/p>\n

The findings warn of a growing coastal vulnerability, from the Mekong to the Mississippi, as deltas lose their natural elevation buffer faster than climate change lifts the seas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Inside new science exposing how humidity can escalate a heat wave<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

When Floridians talk about extreme weather, hurricanes dominate the conversation. Each season brings updates on storm tracks, cone predictions and wind speeds, all in the hopes of predicting the unpredictable. But a quieter, more deceptive threat is already reshaping the way people live and work in the Sunshine State: extreme heat.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeat waves actually kill more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, or any other form of extreme weather,\u201d said David Keellings, Ph.D., associate professor of geography. \u201cThe Centers for Disease Control attribute over a thousand deaths annually to hyperthermia, but that number is probably really underestimated considering subsequent complications of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The invisible costs of wildfire disasters in 2025<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Wildfires burned through 390 million hectares in 2025 \u2013 equivalent to 92% of the European Union\u2019s land area \u2013 yet the costliest event of the year, the January fires in and around Los Angeles, burned just 23,000 hectares while causing more than USD 53 billion in damage.<\/p>\n

In 2025 the total cost of damages caused by natural hazards has been calculated at USD 224 billion, of which USD 108 billion was insured, according to the global reinsurance company Munich Re. UNDRR highlights that the non\u2011financial costs\u2014including damage to health, livelihoods, and ecosystems\u2014greatly extend the human toll of wildfire disasters and call for stronger systemic responses worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Joint effect of sleep duration and sleep quality on self-rated health among Canadian adults: estimating relative excess risk due to interaction from a nationwide survey<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

A Commentary from the CODATA TG FAIR-DRR has just been published in Frontiers in Public Health. This commentary examines how FAIR data principles can improve research quality and impact. It aligns with the Task Group\u2019s mission to break down data silos and build a harmonised data ecosystem for disaster risk reduction. The authors illustrate the importance of rigorous, transparent data practices in driving reliable findings. \u201cIt demonstrates how methodological compromises and insufficiently justified analytic choices can produce imprecise or potentially misleading findings,\u201d the commentary notes, underlining why embracing FAIR principles is crucial for credible research and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Bridging the \u20ac6.5 Trillion Water Infrastructure Gap: A Playbook<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Water infrastructure lies at the centre of the world\u2019s economic and climate resilience. To deliver equitable, resilient, sustainable and technologically advanced drinking water and sanitation systems for all, global spending will need to double by 2040. The total investment required amounts to \u20ac11.4 trillion ($13.2 trillion), revealing a financing gap of about \u20ac6.5 trillion compared with current trajectories. Bridging this gap could generate \u20ac8.4 trillion in additional GDP and support more than 206 million full-time jobs worldwide by 2040, equivalent to 14 million jobs each year.<\/p>\n

The new insights report outlines how water infrastructure can become a catalyst for sustainable growth and resilience through coherent policy, innovative finance and collaboration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator Impact Report 2020-2025<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The UNDP-Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) Impact Report captures five years of locally led innovation, community leadership and resilience-building across the Global South. Since 2020, UNDP-AFCIA has supported 44 locally rooted initiatives in 33 countries with US$8.3 million in grants and an additional $6 million in technical assistance, reaching more than 2.6 million people.<\/p>\n

This report showcases how small, flexible grants\u2014paired with technical support, business coaching and investment brokering\u2014can unlock powerful change. 59 percent of supported organizations now generate revenue, 14 percent created entirely new markets and many turned early-stage ideas into viable models for scale. Communities restored over 29,000 hectares of land, improved livelihoods for more than 21,700 households, piloted 12 new climate innovations\u2014from Indigenous seed banks to floating farms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Publication: Handbook for Livable and Resilient Cities: Integrating Hazard and Risk Information into Urban Planning<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Rapid urbanization worldwide is creating significant environmental, social, and economic challenges. Cities face greater exposure to extreme weather, climate impacts, pollution, poverty, shrinking green spaces, and heightened risks to lives, livelihoods, and assets. As these risks intensify, national and local governments must collaborate to strengthen urban livability and resilience through risk\u2011informed planning. This handbook defines livable, resilient cities as urban areas that promote green growth, social inclusion, resilient built environments, and shared prosperity. It emphasizes preventing and reducing the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. In such cities, planned and sustainable growth ensures access to healthy environments, affordable housing, basic services, jobs, and low\u2011carbon transport and economic opportunities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Cities need an integrated and holistic approach to health adaptation in climate planning<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Despite clear links between climate impacts and public health, barriers to implementing health adaptation persist, and stronger city\u2011level commitment is needed. We reviewed 55 city climate adaptation plans (2016\u20132024) for health comprehensiveness, dimensions of health, equity and vulnerability, and implementation readiness. We found that 20% of cities did not meaningfully include health; 29% acknowledged climate\u2011related health impacts but lacked health\u2011focused strategies; 40% included some health\u2011related adaptation; and 11% had health\u2011specific strategies, yet none met our definition of a prioritized, holistic approach. Only six cities\u2014Chennai, Dar es Salaam, Delhi, Salvador, Singapore and Tshwane\u2014had comprehensive interventions beyond heat and air pollution. Mental health, social capital, equity and justice are frequently overlooked.\u00a0Our analysis shows that the awareness of health impacts is prevalent at the city level, but the integration of holistic health strategies in adaptation plans still lags.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Integration of large vision language models for efficient post-disaster damage assessment and reporting<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Traditional natural disaster response requires coordinated teamwork, where speed and efficiency are essential. However, human limitations can delay critical actions and increase human and economic losses. Agentic Large Vision Language Models (LVLMs) offer a way to address this challenge, with potential for significant socio\u2011economic impact, particularly by improving resilience and resource access in underdeveloped regions. We introduce\u00a0DisasTeller<\/strong>, a multi\u2011LVLM framework that automates post\u2011disaster tasks such as on\u2011site assessment, emergency alerts, resource allocation, and recovery planning. By coordinating four specialised LVLM agents with GPT\u20114 as the core, DisasTeller accelerates disaster response, reduces human execution time, and structures information flow. Our evaluation highlights both benefits and challenges, emphasising the need for human validation to prevent error propagation and ensure trustworthy deployment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Women in scientific organizations:\u00a0global evidence from science academies and unions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the International Science Council, the InterAcademy Partnership and the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science will present the findings of their new global study on gender equality in scientific organizations.<\/p>\n

The study examines\u00a0how women access, participate in, lead, and are recognized within science academies, academies of engineering and medicine, and international disciplinary unions worldwide.\u00a0It draws on institutional data from 136 scientific organizations, survey responses from nearly 650 scientists, and targeted qualitative interviews to analyse both formal structures and lived experiences shaping participation and leadership.<\/p>\n

Date and time: 11 Feb 2026, 2-4pm UTC<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Masterclass series: Disaster Forensic Investigations – Uncovering Root Causes and Drivers of Disaster Risk and Disasters<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The three\u2011part course\u00a0\u201cDisaster Forensic Investigations \u2013 Uncovering Root Causes and Drivers of Disaster Risk and Disasters\u201d<\/em>, developed by UNDRR and partners, provides an essential overview of disaster forensics and its role in supporting resilient, risk\u2011reducing decisions and effective development policy. As disasters grow in frequency and severity, understanding the social, economic and institutional processes that generate risk is critical. Disaster forensics helps uncover these underlying dynamics and guides transformation toward sustainable and equitable development. Its analytical approach can significantly inform new development initiatives and strengthen post\u2011disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts.<\/p>\n

Date and Time (London time): 3 Feb 2026, 02:00 PM, 10 Feb 2026, 02:00 PM, 17 Feb 2026, 02:00 PM<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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WWRP Weather and Society Conference 2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Extreme hydrometeorological events affect society, economies and the environment as never before in human history. Government agencies, science and decision makers face an unprecedented extreme event management challenge to reduce risks to citizens.<\/p>\n

The World Weather Research Programme’s Working Group on Societal and Economic Research Applications (SERA) will host the 3rd “Weather and Society” Conference. The event brings together leading researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders to explore the critical intersection of meteorological science and societal applications.<\/p>\n

Date (Europe\/ London): 23 Feb 2026 \u2013 27 Feb 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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World Impact Summit 2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The World Impact Summit 2026 will cover themes including (1) Agriculture, Food, & Health, (2) Construction, development, sustainable cities and territories, (3) Circular economy & recycling, (4) Energy, transport, & mobility, (5) Financing & sustainability, (6) Training, integration, employment and socialites, (7) Green industry & decarbonisation, (8) Digital, data and responsible AI, (9) Natural Resources, Environment & Biodiversity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Summit is a place to discover concrete testimonials from companies and communities that are successfully transitioning, share and co-create innovative solutions adapted to your challenges, and participate in immersive workshops that turn your ideas into tangible actions.<\/p>\n

Date: 5 – 6 Feb 2026 | Where: Paris, Grande Halle de la Villette<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The pulse of the planet The explosion of data offers new ways to understand the economy\u2014and change what gets measured, not just how. Digital technologies are redefining how we see and manage the global economy. As Kenneth\u202fCukier writes in\u00a0Finance\u202f&\u202fDevelopment, the earth is developing a \u201cdigital nervous system\u201d through satellites, sensors, and AI that measure everything […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-drr-and-open-data-newsletter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3243"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3244,"href":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3243\/revisions\/3244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/codata.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}