What's New in Knowledge | July 2025
Natural Hazards Research Australia and the National Emergency Management Agency have released a State of Disaster Resilience Report, based upon the refreshed version of the Australian Disaster Resilience Index. It reveals resilience strengths across Australia and how it has opened opportunities for targeted enhancements.
In understanding consequences and recovery, here is an article on housing policies and how they can improve community preparedness and responses to disaster. In looking at recovery, global leaders met at the World Resilient Recovery conference to launch the ‘Priority Actions to Enhance Readiness for Resilient Recovery’ which focuses on the achievement towards Action 4 of the Sendai Framework (building back better in recovery). This is an article on what recovery looks like to those attending the World Resilient Recovery Conference.
In thinking about systemic risk, here is an article from Australia looking at the changing risk of fire on human and environmental assets. This is an article that looks at changing the principles that guide how we assess and respond to systemic risks and how we can learn from pilot projects/programs. This is a research paper that highlights critical responses to global systemic risk in the era of polycrisis.
In disaster risk reduction, this research paper looks at measuring individual preparedness for flood and bushfire emergencies and how preparedness can mitigate the impacts of these events. This article by the European Committee of the Regions celebrates and shares success stories of investing in disaster resilience both locally and regionally.
Focusing on First Nations knowledge, here is an article on the better practice engagement with First nations communities and people that covers free, prior and informed consent.
In children and young people, this article covers young children explaining their emotional experiences via drawing after the devastating earthquake in Turkey. Here is a brief to advocates for the prioritisation of children and the essential services they depend on within the implementation of the Sendai Framework. Here is a piece from the American Psychological Association showing research that is sharing research to help youth move from climate anxiety to climate action.
Recognising inequity, this new research reveals women’s leadership in the Northern Rivers flood recovery. The LAC network of women take the lead in shaping a gender-responsive and resilient future, more information on this can be found here. The Anticipation Hub have created a guide on protection, gender and inclusion in anticipatory action, accessible here.
Looking at weather and climate change, here is a research article that looks at mapping the impacts of extreme weather on global events and mass gatherings between 2004 and 2025.
Focusing on extreme heat, here is research that shows how extreme heat is reshaping urban life, from things like transport and housing to economic productivity, this article shares how each of these are being impacted from rising heat levels.
In health, here is a study that shows how controlled burns can reduce wildfire intensity and smoke which can reduce smoke related illnesses during and after a wildfire. This article shares the new incident management measurement tool (IMMT) that is a tool for measuring public health incident management during and after emergencies. This study shows the chronic impacts of the climate crisis on mental health. This interesting article shows how AI is reimagining infectious disease forecasting.
Looking at governance, leadership and capacity building, this article looks at social fairness in preparing for climate change and how resilience can benefit communities across Europe. FEMA (The US Federal Emergency Management Agency) have released a new policy guide on state mitigation planning which is available to peruse here.
Looking at knowledge development and translation, here is an article on a platform called ProSafeNet, it is a global hub for safety, security, risk and emergency (disaster) professionals and scientists. The entire content from the Natural Hazards Research Australia Forum in Adelaide can be found here. Of particular interest are Arielle Helfgott’s presentation on futures, Tiahni Adamson’s view of being ahead of ready from an indigenous perspective, and Mark Duckworth’s thoughts on trust and government. At this years Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction it was echoed that risk communication is essential for disaster risk reduction, find out more about this here.
Examining the frontiers in technology, here is an article on a technology called coastal sense, that is empowering communities and improving their coastal resilience through this low-cost technology. This article shares how Google is supporting better tropical cyclone predictions with AI. This is an informative article on how mapping unmapped places could potentially save millions of lives from climate disaster.
Back in time, 10 years ago in June of 2015, South Pakistan faces a major heatwave killing up to an estimated 2,000 people from dehydration and heat stroke.
WNIK Radio
Here is a brand-new podcast series created by the UK Resilience Academy called ‘Resilience in the Round’, the first episode can be found here and is titled ‘Resilience is Everyone’s Business’.
The IFRC Mental Health and Psychosocial Support movement hub podcast ‘Heartbeat for Humanity’ has released its latest episode that covers the topic of support following disasters.
The ABC podcast, Pacific Prepared, have shared a story on the challenges of covering disasters in the media.
Sources: Prevention Web, Nature, The Conversation, UNDRR, International Journal on Disaster Risk Reduction, LinkedIn, Sandy Whight, Isabel Cornes, Darryl Glover.