Natural hazards can strike suddenly, like tsunamis or earthquakes, or gradually over time, like a drought. However, whether they occur rapidly or slowly, they can cause extensive damage to houses, schools, hospitals, food storage facilities, office buildings as well as causing significant damage and losses to the economy, society, agriculture and the environment. 

Climate change is among the main drivers of weather-related disasters, such as floods, storms and droughts, which are expected to occur more frequently and severely in the future. Other factors such as, the decline of ecosystems, rapid urbanization, limited institutional capacity and poverty contribute to increasing the risks of occurrence of these disasters. Tackling these issues could help reduce the impact of these floods, storms and droughts.

There are many action that can be taken to reduce damage and losses from these natural hazards and every one of us, entire families and communities, have the power to make a difference, including you! Disaster risk reduction (DRR) focuses on this.

You may think what could you do, as an individual, to make a change against a powerful earthquake or a tsunami? Actually, there are many actions that each of us can take to be better prepared. Already many people and organizations around the world are working hard to promote DRR so as to help people to be prepared and ready before a disaster happens. In this Challenge Badge, you will learn about what hazards and disasters are, and learn how disasters can cause widespread damage and can hurt a country’s development for years to come. You will learn how to prevent, reduce and prepare for the impacts of hazards, how recovery works after a disaster strikes and how to take action to contribute to disaster risk reduction (DRR).

We hope that this Challenge Badge will help you better understand disaster risks and the ways they can be reduced and motivate you to take action and become positive drivers of change in your communities and within international arenas.