On November 14-15, 2017, The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is holding a two-day special symposium on Mainstreaming the Mitigation Hierarchy in Impact Assessment in Washington, D.C., followed by two days of specialized training … [Read more...] about IAIA Hosts Special Biodiversity Symposium in IDB Headquarters, Washington D.C.
Want to improve your development projects? New satellite technology can help
Earth Observation (EO) data is the most adaptive tool to monitor remote areas, where sampling onsite can be very difficult or even impossible. An overview of the same region can become available only through satellite information. Such technologies are currently being harnessed by the Environmental and Social Safeguards Unit of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), through … [Read more...] about Want to improve your development projects? New satellite technology can help
After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Caribbean countries come together and discuss challenges in environmental governance
The Caribbean’s natural and infrastructural assets are vulnerable to natural hazards as well as the effects of global climate change, and all sectors –agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, housing – are at risk. The month of September 2017 turned out to be the most active month of any Atlantic hurricane season on record. We saw Category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria batter … [Read more...] about After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Caribbean countries come together and discuss challenges in environmental governance
International Day for Disaster Reduction: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
A few days ago I saw a drawing made by the son of a friend who lives in Mexico City after the second earthquake to hit the city this year. I was impressed for two reasons–first, how the child conveyed the closeness to his mother at the time of the tremor and how they were leaving their house with his belongings (toys); and second, how he managed to depict the shaking of the … [Read more...] about International Day for Disaster Reduction: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
What Mexico Did to Reduce 80% of its Disaster-related Deaths
Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City’s most emblematic avenue, has the worst soil when it comes to the foundation for buildings. Although an earthquake always has the potential to cause substantial human losses and severe infrastructure damage, this road sits on the ancient lake bed of the Valley of Mexico, and, as a result, its soil – notoriously soft and with a high-water content … [Read more...] about What Mexico Did to Reduce 80% of its Disaster-related Deaths