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Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2026 | Viewed by 10886

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Editors

Dr. David Denkenberger

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Guest Editor

Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
Interests: resilience to catastrophes; resilient food; global catastrophic infrastructure loss resilience

Prof. Dr. Joshua M. Pearce

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Guest Editor

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
Interests: solar photovoltaics; appropriate technology; distributed recycling and additive manufacturing; open hardware; resilient food
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Baxter Kamana-Williams

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Guest Editor

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
Interests: demand-side management; demand response; energy policy; just transition; energy access; energy security

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Disasters, ranging from local disruptions caused by earthquakes to global disruptions caused by pandemics and other global catastrophes, threaten the continued operation of global systems. Such disasters directly affect many of the Sustainable Development Goals, including in the areas of poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, energy, economic growth, inequalities, and peace. Accordingly, long-term sustainability, and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals requires the ability to prevent and adapt to such disasters.

This Special Issue aims to create a bridge between researchers in the communities of disaster risk reduction and sustainability, supporting a transdisciplinary dialogue to improve the security, resilience, and long-term sustainability of global systems.

Both original research papers and reviews are welcome in this Special Issue, and research themes may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

Disaster prevention, including climate change mitigation, resilient food sources, climate resilient agriculture systems, and climate resilient water systems;
Disaster response and recovery, including post-disaster coordination and short- and long-term emergency planning;
Disaster adaptation, including urban resilience, sustainable infrastructure, climate change adaptation, and policies for resilience to global catastrophic risks;
Energy security, including resilience to fuel shocks and supply chain disruptions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. David Denkenberger
Prof. Dr. Joshua M. Pearce
Dr. Baxter Kamana-Williams
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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

disaster prevention
disaster resilience
sustainability
energy security
global catastrophic risk

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 3320 KB

Open AccessArticle

Refining Social Vulnerability Indices Towards Sustainable and Resilient Rural Communities

by Eileen Johnson and Elizabeth Hertz

Sustainability 2026, 18(14), 6933; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18146933 - 8 Jul 2026

Viewed by 287

Abstract

Rural coastal communities are grappling with climate change impacts, including the increased frequency of extreme storm events. Achieving sustainability goals requires addressing environmental, social, and economic dimensions of these events. Social vulnerability indices provide a means of addressing social vulnerability to advance sustainability goals. While such indices offer a metric for assessing relative social vulnerability at a community scale, they often fail to capture more nuanced dimensions of vulnerability. Our exploratory qualitative case study employed two community-driven exercises to examine the impacts due to loss of power, heat, and access to emergency services stemming from a storm event. Participants representing public, conservation, social service, emergency management, and business sectors received a customized social vulnerability index prior to the community exercise, which examined social vulnerabilities associated with an extreme storm event. Participants completed pre- and post-exercise surveys. Transcripts and notes from discussions were analyzed qualitatively. The results provide a refined understanding of who is vulnerable to climate change impacts, the limitations of vulnerability indices in capturing these vulnerabilities, and the potential for community-centered approaches for developing customized vulnerability indices. Such approaches can inform more comprehensive preparation and recovery initiatives in response to increasing extreme storm events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability)

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22 pages, 11276 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Participatory Visualization Methods to Explore Drivers of Change Within Flood Risk Management Systems

by Charlotte Milne, Vanessa Lueck, Kees Lokman, Dana Johnson and Maggie Low

Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6897; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136897 - 7 Jul 2026

Viewed by 285

Abstract

Flood risk is a wicked problem, characterized by non-linear dynamics, cross-scale interdependencies, and contested responsibilities. Disentangling who or what has the capacity to drive change in flood risk management (FRM) systems is a critical step for designing inclusive and sustainable risk-reducing interventions. Given the diverse range of actors often involved in FRM decision-making, it is necessary to consider different interpretations of what system features are important. Using participatory visualization methods this study applied a systems-thinking lens to examine how experts visualize the FRM system and its drivers of change in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Workshop one participants undertook group timeline mapping to visualize their understanding of the events and processes that have driven BC FRM system development. Workshop two participants completed open-ended concept maps, producing personal mental models of the features and relationships that make up the present-day FRM system. Data from both workshops were synthesized into a ‘master’ timeline and concept map, and the experts’ perceived drivers of system change were identified. Our results revealed decentralizing governance shifts and past flood events as drivers of historic system development in the minds of our experts. Our results also indicated leverage points that experts had included as drivers of system improvement in their concept maps, with frequently named and connected features, such as the most interconnected feature: ‘flood mapping’, offering potential opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and cascading risk-reduction action. Possible gaps in the FRM system were also revealed by system features that were acknowledged as important by participants but were represented as disconnected, including themes of ‘climate change impact’ and ‘reconciliation’. Participatory visualization methods, especially when used in combination, offer a practical approach for representing experts’ mental models of FRM systems, revealing expert-identified leverage points for practical FRM improvement that can contribute to sustainable flood risk reduction goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability)

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23 pages, 1303 KB

Open AccessArticle

Potential for Cropland Cultivation and Expansion Using Animal Draught Power in an Abrupt-Sunlight-Reduction Scenario with Loss of Industry

by Luisa L. Monteiro, Michael Hinge, Simon Blouin and David Denkenberger

Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6552; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136552 - 28 Jun 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 580

Abstract

An abrupt-sunlight-reduction scenario combined with a catastrophic collapse of electricity/industry has the potential to disrupt food production and distribution worldwide, creating widespread food insecurity. This paper explores the potential of animal draught power to cultivate current cropland and expand cropland area in each country with winter wheat during an abrupt-sunlight-reduction scenario with global collapse of industry. For a 150 tera-gram soot injection with no fertiliser application, the country-level allocation of draught animals allows for the global cultivation of over 700 million hectares (Mha) of current cropland, and expansion of global cropland area by 120 Mha, mostly focused in tropical regions of the globe. Over the course of seven years, over 8.3 billion tons of wheat are produced globally, 25% of which is fed to working animals, while the remaining surplus is used to meet human calorie demand. Although enough wheat is eventually produced to meet 80% of the human global calorie demand, animal demand and trade collapse only makes it possible to meet 30% of the global calorie demand. This presents outdoor agriculture and cropland expansion as viable and sustainable methods to mitigate starvation and prevent animal extinction in a catastrophe in some select countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability)

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27 pages, 795 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Community Resilience: Linking Perceived and Actual Household Disaster Preparedness

by Rasa Smaliukiene and Svajone Bekesiene

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5596; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115596 - 2 Jun 2026

Viewed by 595

Abstract

From a public management perspective, actual household disaster preparedness is an important component of sustainable community resilience because it strengthens households’ capacity to withstand, adapt to, and recover from disruptions. However, despite it being an important community-level dimension, the mechanisms linking perceived and actual household disaster preparedness are not well understood. Although prior research has demonstrated the close association between preparedness and socio-attitudinal factors, the mechanisms through which these factors influence preparedness-related behavior are unclear. This study examined whether perceived disaster preparedness is associated with actual household disaster preparedness, and whether this relationship is mediated by institutional trust, civic participation, and perceived well-being and moderated by gender and education. The analysis was based on data from an omnibus survey of 550 adults in Lithuania and employed moderated serial mediation models using PROCESS Models 6 and 58. The findings showed no direct association between perceived disaster preparedness and actual household disaster preparedness; instead, the relationship operated indirectly. Civic participation was the only significant simple mediator: higher perceived disaster preparedness was associated with lower civic participation, which in turn was associated with lower actual household disaster preparedness. Institutional trust and perceived well-being did not mediate this relationship. The negative association between institutional trust and actual household disaster preparedness was stronger among more highly educated respondents, whereas the positive association between civic participation and actual household disaster preparedness was stronger among men than among women. These findings suggest that differentiated preparedness strategies are needed to strengthen actual household disaster preparedness as a foundation of sustainable community resilience, and, more specifically, of the long-term sustainability of communities facing recurring risks and disruptions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability)

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37 pages, 9744 KB

Open AccessArticle

Learning from Unsustainable Post-Disaster Temporary Housing Programs in Spain: Lessons from the 2011 Lorca Earthquake and the 2021 La Palma Volcano Eruption

by Pablo Bris, Félix Bendito and Daniel Martínez

Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 963; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020963 - 17 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 963

Abstract

This article examines the failure of the two most recent temporary housing programs implemented in Spain following two major disasters: the 2011 Lorca earthquake and the 2021 La Palma volcanic eruption. Despite differing hazard typologies, both cases resulted in incomplete and ultimately unsuccessful housing programs, with only 13 of the 60 planned units built in Lorca and 121 of the 200 planned units delivered in La Palma. Using a qualitative comparative case study approach, the research analyzes governance decisions, housing design, and implementation processes to assess their impact on the sustainability of post-disaster temporary housing. The analysis adopts the five dimensions of sustainability—environmental, economic, social, cultural, and institutional—as an integrated analytical framework for evaluating public management performance in post-disaster temporary housing. The findings show that early decision-making, shaped by political urgency, technical misjudgments, and the absence of adaptive governance, led to severe delays, cost overruns, inadequate and energy-inefficient construction, and the formation of marginalized settlements. This study concludes that the lack of regulatory frameworks, legal instruments, and operational protocols for temporary housing in Spain was a determining factor in both failures, generating vulnerability, prolonging recovery processes, and undermining sustainability across all five dimensions. By drawing lessons from these cases, this article contributes to debates on resilient and sustainable post-disaster recovery and highlights the urgent need for integrated regulatory frameworks for temporary housing in Spain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability)

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30 pages, 718 KB

Open AccessArticle

Barriers and Enablers to Emergency Preparedness and Service Continuity: A Survey of Australian Community-Based Health and Social Care Organisations

by Kuo-yi Jade Chang, Farhana Haque Nila, Ivy Yen, Bronwyn Simpson and Michelle Villeneuve

Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10649; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310649 - 27 Nov 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1549

Abstract

Community-based organisations (CBOs) play a crucial role supporting clients during emergencies yet often lack adequate preparation. This study examined how Australian CBOs perceived and enacted dual responsibilities: ensuring service continuity during emergencies and facilitating person-centred preparedness for high-risk populations. A national cross-sectional online survey of community-based health and social care organisations was conducted between December 2021 and April 2022, employing strategic outreach and snowball sampling. Among 244 respondents, disability services (69%) and housing and homelessness services (27%) were the most common providers. Many organisations showed strong emergency preparedness, including comprehensive insurance, staff empowerment, and adaptive service delivery. Barriers to business continuity plans (BCPs) included resource constraints and limited emergency information access. Organisations with established networks and collaborations with emergency services demonstrated greater capacity for sustained service delivery (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed local networking with emergency service agencies was positively associated with CBOs’ ability to support client preparedness (p < 0.001), while lack of tools (p = 0.007) and training (p = 0.037) limited capacity to facilitate person-centred emergency planning for high-risk populations. Embedding business continuity planning within operations and strengthening cross-sector collaboration can enable CBOs to fulfil their aforementioned dual responsibilities, while advancing sustainable organisational resilience and inclusive disaster risk reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability)

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23 pages, 314 KB

Open AccessArticle

Preventing Disasters Before They Happen: Lessons from Successful Disaster Risk Reduction in Southern Africa

by Wilfred Lunga, Jane Kaifa, Charles Musarurwa, Gcina Malandela, Samantha Tshabalala, Caiphus Baloyi and Mmakotsedi Magampa

Sustainability 2025, 17(20), 9131; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209131 - 15 Oct 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3280

Abstract

Disaster headlines often underscore devastation and loss while overlooking success stories where proactive disaster risk reduction (DRRM) measures have averted catastrophe, saved lives, and reduced economic damage. This study addresses the gap in documentation and analysis of DRRM success stories in Africa, particularly within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), arguing that the absence of such narratives hampers a shift from reactive to proactive disaster risk governance. The research aims to extract critical lessons from success stories for enhancing future preparedness and response frameworks. A qualitative research design was employed, integrating document analysis, expert interviews, field observations, and practitioner workshops. Data was triangulated from diverse sources, including national disaster management agency reports (e.g., South Africa’s NDMC, Botswana’s NDMO, Mozambique’s INGC), peer-reviewed literature, UNDRR reports, SADC policy documents, and first-hand experiences from the authors’ consultancy work in the African Union’s biennial DRRM reporting processes. Case studies examined include Mozambique’s response to Cyclone Idai in 2019, South Africa’s drought and flood risk governance (e.g., the 2023 floods in Eastern and Western Cape), and Malawi’s flood resilience programs. Findings reveal that successful DRRM outcomes are driven by a combination of anticipatory governance, community-based preparedness, integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKSs), and investment in infrastructure and ecosystem-based adaptation. These cases demonstrate that locally embedded, yet scientifically informed, interventions enhance resilience and reduce disaster impacts. The study underscores the relevance of theoretical frameworks such as resilience theory, narrative theory, and social learning in interpreting how success stories contribute to institutional memory and adaptive capacity. Policy recommendations emphasize the need for institutionalizing success-story documentation in national DRRM frameworks, scaling up community engagement in risk governance, and fostering regional knowledge-sharing platforms within the SADC. Furthermore, the paper advocates for making DRRM success stories more visible and actionable to transition toward more anticipatory, inclusive, and effective disaster risk management systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability)

23 pages, 5501 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Road Surface Conditions Prediction Model for Snow Removal Decision-Making

by Gyeonghoon Ma, Min-Cheol Park, Junchul Kim, Han Jin Oh and Jin-Hoon Jeong

Sustainability 2025, 17(19), 8794; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198794 - 30 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1605

Abstract

Snowfall and road surface freezing cause traffic disruptions and skidding accidents. When widespread extreme cold events or sudden heavy snowfalls occur, the continuous monitoring and management of extensive road networks until the restoration of traffic operations is constrained by the limited personnel and resources available to road authorities. Consequently, road surface condition prediction models have become increasingly necessary to enable timely and sustainable decision-making. This study proposes a road surface condition prediction model based on CCTV images collected from roadside cameras. Three databases were constructed based on different definitions of moisture-related surface classes, and models with the same architecture were trained and evaluated. The results showed that the best performance was achieved when ice and snow were combined into a single class rather than treated separately. The proposed model was designed with a simplified structure to ensure applicability in practical operations requiring computational efficiency. Compared with transfer learning using deeper and more complex pre-trained models, the proposed model achieved comparable prediction accuracy while requiring less training time and computational resources. These findings demonstrate the reliability and practical utility of the developed model, indicating that its application can support sustainable snow removal decision-making across extensive road networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability)

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