About us
Toward inclusive, safe and sustainable development
Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) is an international scientific programme cosponsored by the International Science Council (ISC) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The International Programme Office (IPO) of IRDR is supported by China Association of Science and Technology (CAST), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of CAS.
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Mission
IRDR’s mission is to mobilize science for the reduction of all types of disaster risk; building resilience and reducing vulnerability by integrating risk science with climate change adaptation and mitigation and sustainable development. IRDR aims to usher in an inclusive, safe and sustainable world by promoting a better understanding of disaster risk and the effective use of risk science in decision-making.
Research Objectives
1. improve knowledge and understanding of risk and uncertainty that hamper progress toward inclusive, safe and sustainable development; 2. promote innovation in research and action, and explore effective solutions in DRR; and 3. build institutional capacity required under various socio-economic and cultural settings and development contexts for risk-informed sustainable development.
Governance
IRDR is oversighted by its Co-Sponsors, Donor and Host. The IRDR Scientific Committee (SC) provides overall guidance on the development and the implementation of IRDR Action Plans. IRDR IPO serves as the Secretariat of IRDR.
Community
Scientific Committee (SC), National Committees (NCs), International Centres of Excellence (ICoEs), Young Scientists Programme (YSP), in partnership with global DRR stakeholders
NEWS RELEASES
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Call for Stories | Living Legacies: Tales of Culture and Resilience
Events
11 February 2026
UNESCO and ICHCAP seek Asia-Pacific personal stories linking culture and climate change for Living Legacies. Highlight community challenges and solutions, submit to the given UNESCO email by 15 March 2026. IRDR offers relevant heritage protection resources online.
IRDR Holds First Online Meeting of Its ICoEs for 2026
News
11 February 2026
IRDR held its first 2026 ICoEs online meeting on 4 Feb, announcing the 2025 new ICoEs selection results, introducing its five dynamic work streams for Phase II, discussing post-2030 agenda participation, with all ICoEs committing to its 2025-2027 Action Plan for disaster risk reduction.
Call for Chapter Submissions: Emerging Technologies in Enhancing Disaster Resilience
News
04 February 2026
UNDRR launched a call for contribution for a new compendium titled “State of Art Policy and Practice of Emerging Technologies in Enhancing Resilience.” The submission deadline is 28 Feb, 2026.
Third Issue of the IRDR Newsletter Now Available
Events
26 January 2026
The third IRDR newsletter (Oct-Dec 2025) is available, covering SC28, IPO staff expansion, new ICoEs, 15 young scientists, and IRDR’s commitment to disaster risk reduction and partnerships.
Call for Participation: ISC-IAP-SGCES Webinar on Women in Scientific Organisations
Events
23 January 2026
ISC, IAP and SGCES host a webinar on Women in Scientific Organisations (11 Feb 2026, 14:00-16:00 UTC) to share 2025 survey findings, practices and challenges, open to all.
Call for Submissions for Upcoming IRDR Special Issue in the Journal of Hazards, Risk and Resilience
News
14 January 2026
IRDR announces a special issue in JHRR, focusing on community-based DRR and CCA, with innovative research by young scientists. Themes cover climate impacts, risk governance, DRR financing, etc. Submission deadline is 30 April 2026; guidelines at the specified link.
IRDR publications
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Scientific Outputs
19 January 2026
From 2023 to 2025, youth hackathons led by UNESCO and IRDR mobilized over 200,000 participants, yielding 100+ projects that blend AI and traditional knowledge into practical solutions like heatstroke warnings and flood prediction systems
Scientific Outputs
27 November 2025
New research in Nature Climate Change reveals large-scale compound ocean changes. The study, led by IRDR Young Scientist Dr. Zhetao Tan, provides a crucial framework for assessing these multidimensional climate risks.


