13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards

Graphic displaying the strengthening of resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters

Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

  • Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

       
  • Indicator 13.1.2: Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030

       
  • Indicator 13.1.3: Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

Related Content

Article

Interview with Bastian van den Bout, Assistant Professor, Twente University, Founder of FastHazard

Advancements in multi-hazard modelling are rapidly reshaping how we anticipate and respond to complex disaster scenarios. Dr. van den Bout underscores that while cutting-edge innovations have expanded our understanding of cascading impacts—from earthquakes triggering tsunamis to storms igniting landslides—persistent model uncertainties and patchy data threaten the reliability of truly integrated systems. He argues that only through close collaboration—melding the strengths of researchers, forecasters, and local experts—can we build the operational, resilient tools communities need. Capturing data during rare, destructive events remains a formidable hurdle, but embracing both foundational research and unconventional, “out-of-the-box” approaches will be vital to surmount these obstacles. Bringing multi-hazard disaster management from theory to practice hinges on precise model calibration, something that often demands boots-on-the-ground expertise and tailored field studies. Space-borne technologies—satellite imagery for landscape mapping and retrospective event analysis—play a growing role in refining water-related hazard forecasts, yet they must be complemented by detailed regional insights and rich observational datasets. For those eager to dive into flood modelling, online courses and math communicators offer accessible entry points. Beyond his technical pursuits, Dr. van den Bout credits a lifelong love of programming and video games for inspiring creative experimentation, reminding us that true innovation flourishes when we carve out time for curiosity—whether swimming in his favorite liquid state of water with family or scouring the internet for fresh data.

Interview with Terefe Hanchiso Sodango, Assistant Professor at Wolkite University

Water scarcity and quality decline is a rapidly increasing challenges and becoming a top concern globally. To wisely manage water and achieve sustainable development, rapid and precise monitoring of water resources is crucial. Earth observation (EO) technologies play a key role in monitoring surface and underground water resources by providing rapid, continuous, high-quality, and low-cost EO data, products, and services. Currently, there are promising efforts in the use of EO technologies for water resource management but there are still huge gaps in the Africa region. The reason for the low utilization of EO technologies can be due to a lack of resources and funding including skilled and motivated human resources in the field and the lack of political commitment to foster EO products, data, and services. Therefore, the use of space technologies and their products to solve water-related problems needs collaborative efforts of all concerned stakeholders from global to local levels.

天空中的河流:大气河流、气候变化与空间技术的作用

大气河流是狭长的水汽输送带,这种大气现象能在全球范围内输送大量水蒸气。尽管大气河流能补充水源和维持生态系统,但也带来重大洪涝风险。随着气候变化加剧其影响,这种风险尤为显著。最新研究表明,随着水汽输送和降水量的增加,大气河流正在持续增强。 全球导航卫星系统无线电掩星技术(GNSS RO)、特殊传感器微波成像仪/探测仪(SSMI/S)、中分辨率成像光谱仪(MODIS)及地球静止环境业务卫星(GOES)等空间技术,可实现对大气河流的探测、演变追踪,并为全球预报模型提供数据支撑。本文还概述了"大气河流侦察计划"及"预报指导型水库调度"等业务实践:通过卫星辅助的预报技术,水库得以在保障防洪安全的前提下优化泄流方案、提升蓄水能力。鉴于气候变暖将加剧大气河流的水汽输送,从沿海城市到山地流域的社区都迫切需要采取行动。更精准的卫星数据正将这种既缓解干旱又引发洪灾的隐形水文驱动因子转化为可操作信息,为智慧水资源管理提供支撑。

Remote sensing approaches to detect and manage urban waterlogging

Urban waterlogging is an increasingly critical challenge particularly in cities where unplanned development, climate change, and inadequate drainage systems exacerbate the issue. Remote sensing provides a viable solution for detecting and managing urban waterlogging by providing real time and large-scale monitoring capabilities. Using satellite datasets such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), multispectral imaging, and thermal sensors urban planners can assess and monitor waterlogging. These datasets coupled with advanced algorithms like machine learning models allow for accurate predictions of waterlogged areas in the cities. Besides, the integration of these remote sensing tools with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhances the ability to manage water resources and develop sustainable urban infrastructures. Despite challenges such as data resolution and high costs of advanced imagery, remote sensing remains a key tool in addressing the socio-economic and environmental impacts of urban waterlogging, particularly in the face of climate change and urbanization.

基于卫星遥感的河流三角洲监测

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

自古以来,河流三角洲因水资源丰富、土壤肥沃及交通便利而成为人类聚居的重要区域。这一格局延续至今。目前,生活在三角洲地区的人口已接近 60 亿,使其成为全球人口最稠密的地区之一(Kuenzer and Renaud 2011)。然而,这些三角洲地区正面临着气候变化、海平面上升、土地利用方式转变以及生态系统退化等威胁。遥感技术在获取环境状况及其时序变化方面具有显著优势,其在识别灾害前兆信号、预测自然现象演变等方面发挥着关键作用。在三角洲地区,遥感已被广泛应用于海岸线变化监测、洪水监测与预测等领域(Merkuryeva et al. 2015;Li and Damen 2010)。持续开展三角洲监测不仅有助于维护其生态功能,还能及时识别潜在风险,并为科学管理提供重要依据,而遥感正是实现这一目标的关键技术。

Geospatial analysis of climate change induced drought using NDVI and LST

Ethiopia, like many developing countries, faces significant threat from droughts triggered by climate change. The country's heavy reliance on agriculture for production, export revenues, and employment makes it highly susceptible to climate change-induced challenges, such as frequent floods, droughts and rising temperatures. Therefore, this research aims to assess drought-prone areas in Meyo district, Borena Zone, thereby contributing to the attainment of SDG 13.1 and the creation of a more resilient and sustainable future in the face of climate change. To achieve the objective, the study employs the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) as indicators and the drought risk map was developed using weighted overlay analysis. Landsat images and rainfall datasets from December in the years 2002, 2012, and 2022 were analyzed to track changes. The result reveals a clear inverse relationship between NDVI and LST, where higher temperatures coincide with decreased NDVI values, signifying vegetation stress caused by reduced water availability. The study also highlights the deficient rainfall and high drought vulnerability in the norther and eastern parts of the study area. The provided drought risk map classifies areas into Low, Moderate, and High risk, illustrating the evolving drought scenario and it signifies increasing severity of drought risk in recent years, particularly from 2012 to 2022. The finding holds vital information for decision-makers, policymakers, and stakeholders in devising effective strategies to mitigate the adverse effect of drought and build resilience in the of climate change.

Наводнения в Судане - Космический мониторинг наводнений для управления рисками стихийных бедствий

Translated by Marina Agarkova

В 2019 году наводнения стали причиной 43,5% всех смертей в результате стихийных бедствий и, таким образом, представляют собой самый смертоносный тип бедствия с растущим числом событий по сравнению с предыдущими годами (CRED, 2019). Кроме того, наводнения приводят к наибольшему числу пострадавших людей по сравнению с другими бедствиями, поскольку они влияют на деятельность человека и экономику (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Using remote sensing to support water-sensitive urban design

Introduction

With the rapid advancement of urbanization, urban water environments are facing unprecedented challenges (Chen et al. 2015). The continuous expansion of impervious surfaces has disrupted the natural water cycle, resulting in rapid stormwater runoff, increased frequency of urban flooding, and reduced groundwater recharge. At the same time, worsening water pollution and the intensifying urban heat island effect further highlight the limitations of traditional urban planning and design in adapting to hydrological systems.

Towards new applications of spaceborne technology on flood protection

Recently, in July 2021, destructive and deadly floods occurred in Western Europe. The estimated insured losses only in Germany could approach 5 billion Euros (AIR Worldwide, 2021). However, the total amount of the damage is currently not foreseeable due to the variety and complexity of the damage patterns and the unbelievable extent of the disaster. It seems the socio-economic losses will dramatically increase and break a new record in the insurance industry after evaluating the complete record of damages’ reports (see Figure 1).

Наводнения в Судане - Космический мониторинг наводнений для управления рисками стихийных бедствий

Translated by Marina Agarkova

В 2019 году наводнения стали причиной 43,5% всех смертей в результате стихийных бедствий и, таким образом, представляют собой самый смертоносный тип бедствия с растущим числом событий по сравнению с предыдущими годами (CRED, 2019). Кроме того, наводнения приводят к наибольшему числу пострадавших людей по сравнению с другими бедствиями, поскольку они влияют на деятельность человека и экономику (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

遥感技术在水敏感城市设计中的应用

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

引言

随着城市化的快速推进,城市水环境正面临前所未有的挑战 (Chen et al. 2015)。城市地表不透水面的持续扩张削弱了自然雨水循环,导致降雨径流迅速汇集,增加了内涝发生的频率,也降低了雨水对地下水的补给能力。同时,水体污染以及城市热岛效应的加剧,进一步暴露出传统城市规划对水文系统适应性的不足。在气候变化背景下,极端降雨、干旱等事件的发生频率和强度不断上升,这些现象正严峻考验着城市对水资源的调蓄、排涝、净化和生态恢复等能力。

在这个背景下,水敏感城市设计(Water Sensitive Urban Design, WSUD)作为一种新型城市发展模式被广泛关注。与“低影响开发”(Low Impact Development, LID)理念相似, 水敏感城市设计强调模拟自然水循环过程,并提升城市应对水资源相关挑战的韧性。其核心目标在于将水资源视为城市系统中不可或缺的组成部分,通过系统性地管理水的收集、输送、处理与储存过程,实现其生态功能与社会功能的有机融合(Wong 2006)。

Towards new applications of spaceborne technology on flood protection

Recently, in July 2021, destructive and deadly floods occurred in Western Europe. The estimated insured losses only in Germany could approach 5 billion Euros (AIR Worldwide, 2021). However, the total amount of the damage is currently not foreseeable due to the variety and complexity of the damage patterns and the unbelievable extent of the disaster. It seems the socio-economic losses will dramatically increase and break a new record in the insurance industry after evaluating the complete record of damages’ reports (see Figure 1).

Наводнения в Судане - Космический мониторинг наводнений для управления рисками стихийных бедствий

Translated by Marina Agarkova

В 2019 году наводнения стали причиной 43,5% всех смертей в результате стихийных бедствий и, таким образом, представляют собой самый смертоносный тип бедствия с растущим числом событий по сравнению с предыдущими годами (CRED, 2019). Кроме того, наводнения приводят к наибольшему числу пострадавших людей по сравнению с другими бедствиями, поскольку они влияют на деятельность человека и экономику (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Tracking a changing water cycle: the role of space-based monitoring in a warming world

Introduction

In recent decades, many regions of the world have experienced a growing instability in rainfall patterns. What were once predictable seasonal rains have become unpredictable —arriving late, falling too fast, or not coming at all. As communities face longer droughts, more frequent floods, and declining snowpack, it’s increasingly clear that these disruptions are not isolated events, but signals of a deeper transformation: the global water cycle is changing.

Rivers in the sky: atmospheric rivers, climate change and the role of space technologies

Atmospheric Rivers (ARs) are long, narrow corridors of moisture. They are an atmospheric phenomenon that transport massive amounts of water vapor across the globe. While they replenish water supplies and sustain ecosystems, ARs also pose significant flood risks, especially as climate change intensifies their impact. Recent studies indicate ARs are becoming more powerful, with increasing moisture transport and precipitation. Space technologies such as radio occultation (GNSS RO), passive microwave imager (e.g. SSMI/S), optical imagers (e.g. MODIS) and geostationary sensors (e.g. GOES) detect Ars, track their evolution and feed global forecast models. This article additionally outlines operational efforts such as Atmospheric River Reconnaissance and Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations, where satellite-supported forecasts have been used to adjust reservoir releases and improve water storage without increasing flood risk. With a warming climate expected to increase the moisture carried by ARs, communities from coastal cities to mountain catchments have strong reasons to car. Better satellite data turns an invisible driver of both drought relief and flooding into actionable information for smarter water management.

Monitoring river delta using remote sensing

Since ancient times, people have established communities in river deltas because it provides water, fertile land, and transportation access, making them an ideal place to live. This pattern has been carried forward to the present. With nearly 6 billion people living in river deltas, they are one of the most densely populated places on Earth (Kuenzer and Renaud, 2011). However, they are facing threats such as climate change, sea level rise, land use changes, and ecosystem degradation.

Interview with Terefe Hanchiso Sodango, Assistant Professor at Wolkite University

Water scarcity and quality decline is a rapidly increasing challenges and becoming a top concern globally. To wisely manage water and achieve sustainable development, rapid and precise monitoring of water resources is crucial. Earth observation (EO) technologies play a key role in monitoring surface and underground water resources by providing rapid, continuous, high-quality, and low-cost EO data, products, and services. Currently, there are promising efforts in the use of EO technologies for water resource management but there are still huge gaps in the Africa region. The reason for the low utilization of EO technologies can be due to a lack of resources and funding including skilled and motivated human resources in the field and the lack of political commitment to foster EO products, data, and services. Therefore, the use of space technologies and their products to solve water-related problems needs collaborative efforts of all concerned stakeholders from global to local levels.

Interview with Bastian van den Bout, Assistant Professor, Twente University, Founder of FastHazard

Advancements in multi-hazard modelling are rapidly reshaping how we anticipate and respond to complex disaster scenarios. Dr. van den Bout underscores that while cutting-edge innovations have expanded our understanding of cascading impacts—from earthquakes triggering tsunamis to storms igniting landslides—persistent model uncertainties and patchy data threaten the reliability of truly integrated systems. He argues that only through close collaboration—melding the strengths of researchers, forecasters, and local experts—can we build the operational, resilient tools communities need. Capturing data during rare, destructive events remains a formidable hurdle, but embracing both foundational research and unconventional, “out-of-the-box” approaches will be vital to surmount these obstacles. Bringing multi-hazard disaster management from theory to practice hinges on precise model calibration, something that often demands boots-on-the-ground expertise and tailored field studies. Space-borne technologies—satellite imagery for landscape mapping and retrospective event analysis—play a growing role in refining water-related hazard forecasts, yet they must be complemented by detailed regional insights and rich observational datasets. For those eager to dive into flood modelling, online courses and math communicators offer accessible entry points. Beyond his technical pursuits, Dr. van den Bout credits a lifelong love of programming and video games for inspiring creative experimentation, reminding us that true innovation flourishes when we carve out time for curiosity—whether swimming in his favorite liquid state of water with family or scouring the internet for fresh data.

Interview with Amin Shakya, PhD Candidate at the University of Twente

We present an interview with Amin Shakya, a PhD candidate at the ITC Faculty of Geo-information science and earth observation at the University of Twente. We delve into Amin’s first engagements with geospatial technologies, his current PhD research on river discharge estimation using earth observation, as well as his prior work on groundwater analysis using space technologies. Further, Amin is engaged with the youth community particularly with the Groundwater Youth Network. We discuss his take on the role of youth in climate change adaptation. Throughout this interview, we touch upon various water challenges across the globe, from disaster risk management in Nepal, to urban water challenges in Mexico, to his current PhD research focused in Europe and in Africa.

Interview with Nuredin Teshome Abegaz, Senior Lecturer and PhD candidate at Wollo University

Nuredin Teshome received the Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Dire Dawa University and the Master of Science degree in Computational Physics from Haramaya University. In support of his bachelor, master studies and his enrolment for PhD studies he received fellowships to carry out research at Botswana International University of Science and Technology (2022-2023). In addition, he also received ‘Advanced Diploma in Data Science with R’, ‘Diploma in Environmental Management’ and ‘Diploma in Environmental Quality Monitoring and Analysis’ from Alison online training platform. From 2016 to 2019 he served as a lecturer and head of the Department of physics at Jigjiga University and he also serves as a lecturer at Wollo University starting from mid-2019. Currently, he is a PhD student at Addis Ababa University (Space Science and Geospatial Institute) in Space and Planetary Science Department.

Interview with Amin Shakya, PhD Candidate at the University of Twente

We present an interview with Amin Shakya, a PhD candidate at the ITC Faculty of Geo-information science and earth observation at the University of Twente. We delve into Amin’s first engagements with geospatial technologies, his current PhD research on river discharge estimation using earth observation, as well as his prior work on groundwater analysis using space technologies. Further, Amin is engaged with the youth community particularly with the Groundwater Youth Network. We discuss his take on the role of youth in climate change adaptation. Throughout this interview, we touch upon various water challenges across the globe, from disaster risk management in Nepal, to urban water challenges in Mexico, to his current PhD research focused in Europe and in Africa.

Interview with Nuredin Teshome Abegaz, Senior Lecturer and PhD candidate at Wollo University

Nuredin Teshome received the Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Dire Dawa University and the Master of Science degree in Computational Physics from Haramaya University. In support of his bachelor, master studies and his enrolment for PhD studies he received fellowships to carry out research at Botswana International University of Science and Technology (2022-2023). In addition, he also received ‘Advanced Diploma in Data Science with R’, ‘Diploma in Environmental Management’ and ‘Diploma in Environmental Quality Monitoring and Analysis’ from Alison online training platform. From 2016 to 2019 he served as a lecturer and head of the Department of physics at Jigjiga University and he also serves as a lecturer at Wollo University starting from mid-2019. Currently, he is a PhD student at Addis Ababa University (Space Science and Geospatial Institute) in Space and Planetary Science Department.

Event

Local Perspectives Case Studies

Geospatial Analysis of Climate Change induced Drought using NDVI and LST

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Ethiopia, like many developing countries, faces significant threat from droughts triggered by climate change. The country's heavy reliance on agriculture for production, export revenues, and employment makes it highly susceptible to climate change-induced challenges, such as frequent floods, droughts and rising temperatures. Therefore, this research aims to assess drought-prone areas in Meyo district, Borena Zone, thereby contributing to the attainment of SDG 13.1 and the creation of a more resilient and sustainable future in the face of climate change. To achieve the objective, the study employs the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) as indicators and the drought risk map was developed using weighted overlay analysis. Landsat images and rainfall datasets from December in the years 2002, 2012, and 2022 were analyzed to track changes. The result reveals a clear inverse relationship between NDVI and LST, where higher temperatures coincide with decreased NDVI values, signifying vegetation stress caused by reduced water availability. The study also highlights the deficient rainfall and high drought vulnerability in the norther and eastern parts of the study area. The provided drought risk map classifies areas into Low, Moderate, and High risk, illustrating the evolving drought scenario and it signifies increasing severity of drought risk in recent years, particularly from 2012 to 2022. The finding holds vital information for decision-makers, policymakers, and stakeholders in devising effective strategies to mitigate the adverse effect of drought and build resilience in the of climate change.