Disaster By Choice

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

Ilan Kelman Ph.D.

Beyond Eco-Anxiety: Land Body Ecologies

Despite environmental destruction impacting mental health and wellbeing, connecting science, art, and action helps heal and improve.

Post-Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing in Japan

Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami continue to provide many post-disaster mental health and wellbeing lessons to be implemented for prevention.

Re-building a disaster-hit house means re-creating a home.

Post-Disaster Shelter Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being

Post-disaster actions must always support mental health and well-being, especially through mindful shelter and settlement as processes.

Is relative poverty a disaster or a disaster creator?

How Are Disasters Defined?

To fully express how disasters affect people, especially their mental health and wellbeing, we need to use fundamental disaster science to explain and accept disaster causes.

Mental Health in a New Climate Change Report

A new UN climate change report provides little on supporting mental health, despite identifying major concerns.

The book cover of Antarcticness.

Antarcticness: The Southernmost Continent and Psychology

Antarctica, as a continent and as a concept, gives us Antarcticness, challenging and supporting mental health.

Subtle warning sign.

Enhancing Warnings to Stop Disasters

A recent UK report summarizes the warning psychology knowledge we have and how to apply it.

Tornado damage in Texas in 2007.

Improving Tornado Warnings Will Help Save Lives

Last week’s tornado disaster could have been averted with long-term readiness involving everyone in society.

Our paper’s diagram demonstrating the link between relative humidity and suicide.

Will Climate Change Increase Suicide Rates?

Mental health impacts from climate change are of high concern. Our new research suggests that hotter, more humid weather might not always influence self-harm rates.

How to Reduce Eco-Anxiety and Make Positive Change

Environmental difficulties including climate change pose immense challenges. Now is the time to be inspired for solutions!

Will $100 Billion Per Year Tackle Climate Change?

Asking for $100 billion per year to tackle climate change misses the excessive amounts being spent to create climate change and other problems.

Tackling Threats From Space Objects

With astronomers calculating the probability that an asteroid or comet will smash into the Earth, let's work now to avoid a disaster.

A New Climate Change Report Without Much New Overall

Today, a new UN report on climate change was published. Substantial effort was put into it—but does it tell us anything new?

The headquarters of The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Geneva.

Climate Change and Humanitarian Shelter

Will changing weather patterns force people to leave their homes?

Mami Mizutori, the head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), launches the UCL Warning Research Centre

The World's First Warning Research Center Has Opened

The world's only research center devoted to the science of warnings has been launched at University College London.

Disaster Diplomacy for North Korea: Pandemic and Famine

The current disasters in North Korea mirror many previous instances, none of which led to long-term diplomacy with the country. Here's why—and what is needed to make real change.

Seattle airport's shuttle: How seismically resistant is it?

How Seattle Withstood a 6.8 Earthquake Without Disaster

Thanks to decades of risk-reduction efforts, Seattle did not experience a disaster in 2001 despite the occurrence of a major earthquake. How do we continue this success?

One Toronto memorial to Hurricane Hazel casualties.

Toronto's Actions After Hurricane Hazel Still Reap Rewards

In 1954, Hurricane Hazel sliced through Toronto. Since then, efforts have supported nature in using floodplains for floods, helping to avert disasters.

Memorial in Tromsø, Norway to Roald Amundsen, leader of the first team to reach the South Pole.

Antarctic Research Has Been Hard-Hit by COVID-19

Science about Antarctica has been severely disrupted by COVID-19, undermining our knowledge of the planet.

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.

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