Each month, Jesse Zondervan picks his favourite posts from geoscience and development blogs/news which cover the geology for global development interest. Here’s a round-up of Jesse’s selections for the last month:
The UN World Meteorological Organization called cyclone Idai, which hit Mozambique this month, “possibly the worst weather-related disaster to hit the southern hemisphere”. Civil Engineering professor Ryan P. Mulligan discusses what climate science tells us about the future of storms like this.
Cyclone Idai paralysed the city of Beira and is a reminder that communities can really benefit from more investment in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
On that note, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction announced that experts and representatives from 33 countries agreed to establish a Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). The coalition targets the challenge of safeguarding infrastructure against climate change enhanced disaster risks, as our dependency on infrastructure increases in the 21st century.
Cloud Seeding
As Dr. Michael A. Bengwayan discusses whether cloud seeding is a viable solution for drought, the Filipino Department of Agriculture announces it will start using the geoengineering technique in areas hit by El Niño.
Rather than geoengineering the climate, cloud seeding is a softer approach to force water out of clouds, which need to be present before cloud seeding can work. The Philippines might offer an insightful example.
Further topics include the exciting climate solutions pioneered by African leaders, laid bare by an expedition on Mount Kenya; and coping strategies for climate change anxieties.
Cyclone Idai
Coalition for Resilient Infrastructure takes off by Denis McClean at UNISDR
Hurricanes to deliver a bigger punch to coasts by Ryan P. Mulligan at The Conversation
Cyclone Idai: why disaster awareness and preparedness matters at the United Nations Environment
Climate Adaptation
Mount Kenya: A View of Climate Impacts and Opportunities at The World Bank
Cloud Seeding, Will It Save Us From Drought? – OpEd by Dr. Michael A. Bengwayan at Eurasia Review
Filipino Department of Agriculture to start cloud seeding by Eireene Jairee Gomez at Manila Times
Climate Change Getting You Down? Here Are Some Coping Strategies by Sarah Fecht at State of the Planet
How to make effective climate policies? Make citizens lead by Kiara Worth at the Tyndall Centre
Novel tool unveiled for climate risk profiling and adaptation at the Climate and Development Knowledge Network
Climate change
Mapped: How climate change affects extreme weather around the world at Carbon Brief
Disaster Risk
78% of older teenagers in Japan anxious about natural disasters, survey says by Magdalena Osumi at the Japan Times
Himalayan hydro developers wilfully ignore climate risks by Beth Walker at India Climate Dialogue
The Dangers of Glacial Lake Floods: Pioneering and Capitulation by Jane Palmer at American Geophysical Union’s Eos
External Opportunities
Deadline for Submitting Voluntary Commitments approaching at UNISDR
Summer 2019 Internship Opportunities at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Summer 2019 Earth Institute Internship Opportunities
African Climate Risks Conference 2019
Vacant PhD positions in Sustainability Science at Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies
Check back next month for more picks!
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