Disaster By Choice

How we turn natural hazards into catastrophes—and how we can change.

Ilan Kelman Ph.D.

Planning for humanitarian relief on the Moon and beyond.

Planning for Outer-Space Humanitarianism

As humans aim to spend more time away from our planet, humanitarian aid and disaster response operations need to be planned for.

Electricity supplies can be interrupted by solar storms.

Beware, Beware the Solar Flare

Our electricity and communications systems are highly vulnerable to solar storms. Acting now saves immense costs later.

The Melkøya liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Hammerfest, northern Norway

Arctic Social and Environmental Responsibility

With so many competing interests for Arctic resources, often originating from outside the region, how can social and environmental responsibility be supported?

Could attending shows be safer with vaccine or health passports or certificates?

Can Vaccine Passports Stop the Pandemic?

Vaccine passports and health passports have been used for previous diseases and are considered for COVID-19. They have advantages and limitations.

Waste management problems and coastal engineering in Malé, Maldives.

Islander Migration and Local-to-Global Change

Migrating and not migrating have long been islander choices as society and the environment change. What should people do for today’s challenges?

More sustainable transport on water and land, with many advantages beyond tackling climate change (Leeuwarden, the Netherlands).

The Causes of Climate Change

Human-caused climate change is one symptom among many. Focusing on one symptom misses real causes and comprehensive solutions.

Sustainability messages at the Future Centre Trust in Barbados.

Connecting Climate Change, Disaster Risk, and Sustainability

To tackle human-caused climate change fully and properly, it should be placed as a subset of wider topics including pollution, disasters, and health.

The 3 December online launch of the Lancet Countdown 2020 report.

Climate Change Harms Our Health

Climate change is producing severe and worsening impacts on health. To address this challenge, we must consider more than climate change.

A flood disaster memorial in Fort Collins, Colorado depicting roles for men and women.

Do Disasters Kill More Women Than Men?

A disaster can kill different sexes and genders at different rates, with differences due to roles and expectations.

Looking down the valley to Longyearbyen--Svalbard’s main settlement.

Disaster Diplomacy in the High Arctic

Geopolitical relations between Norway and Russia do not seem to be influenced much by disaster-related activities for and around the Svalbard archipelago.

Should disasters bring us together to help each other?

Disaster Diplomacy After 20 Years

Disaster diplomacy research has spent two decades seeking examples of a humanitarian imperative ending or creating conflict. So far, little evidence suggests that either occurs.

Pelican risk governance: Identify a potential hazard and offer vulnerability reduction actions.

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

The theme of “disaster risk governance” for October's International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction means governing ourselves so that everyone contributes and gains.

United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

The Sustainable Development Goals After 5 Years

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are laudable for their inclusivity and for tackling major problems, but they leave out many others.

Brushfire in Bulgaria, near the Romanian border.

Does Climate Change Cause Wildfire Disasters?

Wildfires and bushfires have always been natural processes, but human choices make us vulnerable and create disasters.

Engineering for earthquakes in a building in northern Japan.

Dying in Earthquakes: A Tale of Umpteen Tremors

Deaths in earthquakes are not "natural disasters." We know how to design infrastructure to stop collapses in tremors. Political decisions determine whether or not we do so.

The Sustainable Development Goals should seek the stars.

Sustainable Development Goal 18

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have spawned many ideas for an 18th goal (SDG18). From love to outer space, different forms of sustainable development are proposed.

Can Climate Refugees Have Hope?

Despite intense rhetoric on "climate refugees," new publications place climate change and migration in context, showing how affected people have options to control their fates.

How might climate change affect eruptions from Osorno volcano in Chile?

Climate Change, Earthquakes, and Volcanic Eruptions

Are climate change and tectonics linked? We must consider volcanic eruptions and earthquakes changing the climate, as well as climate change affecting earthquakes and eruptions.

How do population numbers and densities impact disaster vulnerabilities?

What Makes an Area Vulnerable to Disasters?

Disasters are influenced by a location's population and density. Much more comes from societal choices for dealing with people.

Tornado damage happens irrespective of climate change.

Does Climate Change Cause Disasters?

Does human-caused climate change create or worsen disasters? Science answers "not really." Disasters are caused by vulnerabilities.

Mount St Helens, Washington viewed from Portland, Oregon.

Mount St. Helens: 40 Years Later

The volcano Mount St. Helens erupted 40 years ago, killing 57 people. Remembering disasters and those who died helps us look to the future to try to avoid a recurrence.

Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland: volcano damage.

Does Nature Play Disaster Games?

Why do disasters happen? It is not because we are embroiled in a fight with nature. It is because our decisions create the vulnerability conditions that permit disasters.