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Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Sustainable Development
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Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Sustainable Development

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Hazards and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 2536

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Chunlan Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
2. Center for Geopolitical and Strategic Studies, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
3. Institute for Global Innovation and Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
Interests: climate change and sustainable development; cryosphere geopolitics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue we propose to address is centered on the critical and interrelated themes of Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Sustainability. The overarching goal is to explore innovative strategies and policies that can effectively mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change while simultaneously enhancing community resilience to natural disasters and promoting sustainable development.

(1) The focus of this Special Issue will be on interdisciplinary research that integrates insights from environmental science, social policy, economics, and urban planning to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. The scope will encompass case studies, theoretical frameworks, and practical policy recommendations that can be implemented at local, national, and international levels. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how adaptation and risk reduction can be harmoniously integrated into the broader context of sustainability.

(2) This Issue aims to build upon existing literature by offering fresh perspectives and solutions that bridge the gap between scientific research and actionable policies. It seeks to contribute to the discourse by emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach that considers the interdependencies between environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic development.

Dr. Chunlan Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate change adaptation
  • disaster risk reduction
  • sustainability
  • resilience
  • environmental policy
  • interdisciplinary research
  • sustainable development
  • urban planning
  • social equity
  • economic development

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 1325 KiB  
Article
Identifying and Prioritizing Climate-Related Natural Hazards for Nuclear Power Plants in Korea Using Delphi
by Dongchang Kim, Shinyoung Kwag, Minkyu Kim, Raeyoung Jung and Seunghyun Eem
Sustainability 2025, 17(12), 5400; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125400 - 11 Jun 2025
Viewed by 410
Abstract
Climate change is projected to increase the intensity and frequency of natural hazards such as heat waves, extreme rainfall, heavy snowfall, typhoons, droughts, floods, and cold waves, potentially impacting the operational safety of critical infrastructure, including nuclear power plants (NPPs). Although quantitative indicators [...] Read more.
Climate change is projected to increase the intensity and frequency of natural hazards such as heat waves, extreme rainfall, heavy snowfall, typhoons, droughts, floods, and cold waves, potentially impacting the operational safety of critical infrastructure, including nuclear power plants (NPPs). Although quantitative indicators exist to screen-out natural hazards at NPPs, comprehensive methodologies for assessing climate-related hazards remain underdeveloped. Furthermore, given the variability and uncertainty of climate change, it is realistically and resource-wise difficult to evaluate all potential risks quantitatively. Using a structured expert elicitation approach, this study systematically identifies and prioritizes climate-related natural hazards for Korean NPPs. An iterative Delphi survey involving 42 experts with extensive experience in nuclear safety and systems was conducted and also evaluated using the best–worst scaling (BWS) method for cross-validation to enhance the robustness of the Delphi priorities. Both methodologies identified extreme rainfall, typhoons, marine organisms, forest fires, and lightning as the top five hazards. The findings provide critical insights for climate resilience planning, inform vulnerability assessments, and support regulatory policy development to mitigate climate-induced risks to Korean nuclear power plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Sustainable Development)
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22 pages, 2123 KiB  
Article
Research on Coupling Coordination Level Between New-Quality Productivity and Industrial Structure Upgrading in the Yangtze River Economic Belt Urban Area
by Min Jin and Xuezhong Jiang
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 5201; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115201 - 5 Jun 2025
Viewed by 552
Abstract
New-quality productivity and industrial structure upgrading has become a primary area of concern with respect to regional economic transformation and sustainable development. Based on static panel data of 108 prefecture-level-and-above cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2013 to 2022, the projection [...] Read more.
New-quality productivity and industrial structure upgrading has become a primary area of concern with respect to regional economic transformation and sustainable development. Based on static panel data of 108 prefecture-level-and-above cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2013 to 2022, the projection pursuit model, coupling coordination degree model, and obstacle degree model were used to study the spatiotemporal patterns and key obstacle factors in the coupling of new-quality productivity and levels of industrial upgrading. Results show the following: (1) The average coupling coordination degree increased from 0.42 in 2013 to 0.53 in 2022, exhibiting a three-stage trend of “initial advancement, rapid growth, and high-level fluctuation”. (2) Regionally, a gradient pattern of “downstream leading, midstream following, and upstream catching up” persists, but regional gaps have narrowed significantly. (3) Spatially, the coupling coordination level shows a pattern of “high in the east, low in the west, led by the core, and breakthrough in the local area”, with significant positive aggregation characteristics. (4) The main obstacle factors across the entire area include digital patents (7.03%), green patents (7.03%), and the number of high-tech enterprises (6.96%), but the weights of the obstacle factors vary greatly across different areas. These findings provide scientific support for green transformation, regional integration, and sustainability-oriented industrial policy design in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Sustainable Development)
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20 pages, 501 KiB  
Article
Regulator Theory, Natural Hazards, and Climate Change
by Geoff Kaine and Vic Wright
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 2979; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072979 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 454
Abstract
Climate change is increasing variability in environmental conditions and the frequency and severity of natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. In this paper, we use general systems theory to describe how disaster management systems are composed of four types of system [...] Read more.
Climate change is increasing variability in environmental conditions and the frequency and severity of natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. In this paper, we use general systems theory to describe how disaster management systems are composed of four types of system regulators (aggregation, passive, error control, and anticipation) that are deployed to provide protection from natural hazards. We argue that climate change, by changing causal relationships in the environment and thereby reducing the predictability of related hazards and altering exposure to them, is likely to require that disaster management systems be restructured by changing the combinations of system regulators that are employed to prevent or mitigate disasters. This leads to the conclusion that one of the keys to developing effective policies to support adaptation to climate change and to promote sustainability hinges on understanding how disaster management systems can be interpreted as mechanisms for regulating exposure and vulnerability to minimise the threats from natural hazards. Consequently, developing methods for interpreting and modelling system regulators in disaster management systems is an important next step. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Sustainable Development)
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Review

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17 pages, 668 KiB  
Review
From Risk to Resilience: Integrating Climate Adaptation and Disaster Reduction in the Pursuit of Sustainable Development
by Andrea Majlingova and Tibor Sándor Kádár
Sustainability 2025, 17(12), 5447; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125447 - 13 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 671
Abstract
The growing frequency and severity of climate-induced disasters—such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires—pose significant threats to sustainable development worldwide. Integrating Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has emerged as a strategy imperative for enhancing societal resilience and protecting developmental [...] Read more.
The growing frequency and severity of climate-induced disasters—such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires—pose significant threats to sustainable development worldwide. Integrating Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has emerged as a strategy imperative for enhancing societal resilience and protecting developmental gains. This review synthesizes the current knowledge and practice at the intersection of CCA and DRR, drawing on international frameworks, national policies, and local implementation strategies. We assess the role of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), the Paris Agreement, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in promoting policy coherence and multi-level governance. Particular attention is given to the effectiveness of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA), and community-based approaches that address both climate vulnerabilities and disaster risks while delivering co-benefits for ecosystems and livelihoods. Case studies from regions highly exposed to climate-related hazards, including the Global South and Europe, illustrate how integrated approaches are operationalized and what barriers persist, including institutional silos, limited financing, and data gaps. For example, Bangladesh has achieved over a 70% reduction in flood-related mortality, while Kenya’s drought-resilient agriculture has increased food security by 35% in affected regions. The review highlights best practices in risk-informed planning, participatory decision-making, and knowledge co-production, emphasizing the need for inclusive governance and cross-sector collaboration. By critically examining the synergies and trade-offs between adaptation and risk reduction, this paper offers a pathway to more resilient, equitable, and sustainable development. It concludes with recommendations for enhancing integration at the policy and practice levels, supporting both immediate risk management and long-term transformation in a changing climate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Sustainable Development)
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