Climate change, urbanisation, land degradation, and systemic interdependencies are intensifying the frequency and complexity of disasters. When natural hazards and disease outbreaks co-occur, they create cascading effects that amplify health and well-being impacts. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how mobility restrictions and disrupted health systems complicated disaster response, while recent events such as floods in Pakistan demonstrated how hazards can directly trigger disease outbreaks.
The scientific and operational understanding of compound, cascading, and interacting risks at the intersection of climate change, disasters, and health remains fragmented. This working group responds to this need by providing a collaborative platform for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to co-develop knowledge and solutions.
Working Group Updates
Meet us!
This group meets once every two months online and consists of anyone interested in / working on bridging the topics of disasters, diseases and health. Feel free to forward this meeting invite to anyone who you think may be interested!
Next meeting:
5th of November 2025
16.00-17.00h CET
During this meeting there will be two presentations, one of the team of Nivedita Sairam and one of Kelley de Polt.
Email Marleen de Ruiter (m.c.de.ruiter@vu.nl) to get a link to the meeting!