The DKKV is…
German Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction e.V.(ger.: Deutsches Komitee Katastrophenvorsorge e.V.)
Newsblog
Malteser survey: Declining sense of security in Germany
The results of the Malteser Volunteer Monitor on the topic of "Civil defence and self-protection: Is Germany ready for a crisis?" show that the feeling of safety in Germany has fallen significantly over the last five years, partly due to increasing concerns about...
Field Trip Report from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan – Opportunities for international cooperation in the field of Disaster Risk and Resilience Research
The report covers a scientific research trip of a German transdisciplinary delegation of disaster risk researchers to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in 2024. The main purpose was to identify natural hazards and disaster risk management structures and to compare them with...
Extreme heatwave on the Mediterranean not possible without climate change
In July 2024, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Morocco experienced an extreme heatwave that claimed at least 23 lives and caused widespread forest fires. Studies show that such extreme heat events would not be possible without anthropogenic climate change....
Climate-resilient sponge cities: goals and policy instruments
By storing and later utilising rainwater that is collected locally, the sponge city concept enables climate-resilient urban development and a higher quality of life at the same time. However, the implementation of the concept is hampered by structural, legal and...
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What is disaster risk reduction?
Storms, natural hazards and extreme events can quickly become a danger to people and the environment. But climate change, extreme urbanization, power outages and fires also offer potential hazards.
A disaster occurs when the functioning of a community or society is impaired or interrupted and, as a result, high human, material, economic and ecological losses occur that cannot be managed alone.
Precautionary measures can help to reduce the consequences and impact of the disaster. Depending on the hazard and personal circumstances, the precautionary measures to be taken may vary.
Find out more about potential hazards and individual precautionary measures on our topic pages.