As the world’s population becomes increasingly concentrated in cities, we are witnessing the urbanization of disasters. Hurricanes Florence, Maria and Irma and recent earthquakes in Ecuador, Haiti, and Mexico all underscore urban risk. And smaller scale events like fires and floods can have disproportionately large impacts in cities given high population … [Read more...] about 10 Platforms to Monitor Hurricanes and Disasters in Cities
climate change
How the Caribbean Can Prepare for More Violent Hurricanes
Updated building codes can help the Caribbean face disaster. But the region also needs a better way to think about preparedness. The aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria renewed calls to fortify Caribbean cities. Recently, the Inter-American Development Bank pledged U$1 billion in loans to support a more resilient Caribbean. The hurricanes that recently battered … [Read more...] about How the Caribbean Can Prepare for More Violent Hurricanes
Creating Momentum for Change in Latin American and Caribbean Cities
English | Español Last week, 195 nations took an important step towards avoiding the most dangerous impacts of climate change when laying out a framework to cut global greenhouse gas emissions at the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris. While the biggest challenges lie still ahead, many observers see the agreement as a clear signal for change in how … [Read more...] about Creating Momentum for Change in Latin American and Caribbean Cities
How can we manage flood risk?
English | Español Houses at risk on the Río Turrialba, Costa Rica. Photo: Shanna Edberg Imagine if your city was flooded in a storm, and 80% of the land in your entire province was left under water. This nightmare occurred in reality in the Mexican state of Tabasco in 2007, when three days of nonstop rains caused a flood that lasted for 100 days in the city of Villahermosa. … [Read more...] about How can we manage flood risk?