Delta Digest Newsletter | issue 005 | disaster and risk reduction management

Welcome to October’s edition of the Delta Digest, where we bring you the latest updates and research from the frontlines of the Living Deltas Hub.

We begin this edition with heavy hearts as we remember and pay tribute to our dear friend, Professor Saleemul Huq OBE, whose untimely passing has left a void in our Hub community. He was a highly respected member of our Living Deltas Hub External Advisory Board, and his contributions since the beginning of the Hub in 2019 have been immeasurable. We find solace in the knowledge that his remarkable legacy will continue to inspire and guide us in our ongoing work.

In this edition, with a focus on disaster risk and reduction management, we present insights into the changes in Tropical Storm activity under the influence of climate change, shedding light on the future of disaster risk mitigation and climate adaptation. The research indicates fewer, yet more intense tropical storms, a finding that could have significant implications for the densely populated basins. Coastal systems and critical infrastructure are also under the spotlight as we bring you a comprehensive review to help determine the path forward in safeguarding these essential systems. With a vast majority of coastal areas affected by climate change, and coastal population densities steadily rising, the need for resilient infrastructure becomes paramount.

We also bring you the latest from the Hub’s Water Blog, exploring research focused on flood prediction in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, presenting case studies on flood risk. We also discuss discussing organic farming in Vietnam and hear from the team conducting recent fieldwork in the Indian Sundarbans. These stories underscore the ongoing efforts to understand and address the complexities of delta living.

Our recent "National Delta Dialogue on GBM Delta Resilience and Livelihoods" in Dhaka, Bangladesh, reflects our commitment to sustainable livelihoods and resilience in the Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna (GBM) delta region. In the face of mounting climate threats, we emphasize the necessity of cross-delta collaboration.

Finally, we invite you to the 3rd International Symposium on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development (DRSD 2023) organised by the Asian Institute of Technology. This symposium promises to be a platform for the exchange of ideas, experiences, and innovations in the fields of disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and climate change.

Thank you for being a part of our community and for your unwavering commitment to the Living Deltas Hub. If you’d like to stay up to date with our latest news and research in between Delta Digest issues, you can now follow us on LinkedIn. Together, we can strive for more resilient and sustainable delta futures.