Robert Glasser
As seen in:
MSN Australia,
BBC,
HuffPost,
The Guardian,
Sydney Morning Herald,
The Conversation,
The Age,
The Hindu,
The Japan Times,
HuffPost UK
and
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Robert Glasser
Lethal humidity may be one of climate change’s most overlooked threats
Your experience on PreventionWeb Please help us improve PreventionWeb by taking this brief survey. Your input will allow us to better serve the needs of the DRR community. See the survey 28 May 2026 Author(s): Robert Glasser By late this century, more than 50 percent of humanity could be exposed to life-threatening heat and humidity. But one of climate change’s deadliest emerging risks remains poorly understood: lethal humidity. Climate change is not only warming the planet.
Lethal humidity may be one of climate change’s most overlooked threats
By late this century, more than 50 percent of humanity could be exposed to life-threatening heat and humidity. But one of climate change’s deadliest emerging risks remains poorly understood: lethal humidity. Climate change is not only warming the planet. It is increasing humidity, because warmer air holds more moisture.
Indonesia in 2035: Climate risks to security in the Indo-Pacific
Please enable javascript to access the full functionality of this site Indonesia in 2035: Climate risks to security in the Indo-Pacific By Michael Copage, Robert Glasser and Isabelle Bond The Indo-Pacific region is particularly exposed to climate impacts, and Indonesia, like many countries, will be severely affected by climate impacts in the decade to come.
Stop the World TSD Summit Sessions: The Climate Crisis with Anote Tong
In the latest video edition of The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions, ASPI Senior Fellow Dr Robert Glasser speaks to the former President of Kiribati and Chair of the Pacific Elders Voice Anote Tong. Anote is one of the Pacific region’s most prominent and respected advocates for action to combat climate change. Robert and Anote discuss the impact that climate change is having in the Pacific and what action needs to be taken now to limit further climate disruptions.
Queensland’s alarming climate trend must not set a ‘new normal’
For a glimpse into Australia’s future in a rapidly changing climate, have a look at Queensland, our most hazard-prone state. Recent government data shows that in the past three years, 60 of the state’s 77 local government areas (LGAs) have suffered three or more major climate-related disasters. In the same period, almost one-third of them have endured five or more disasters, a massive increase from a decade ago (chart below).
The ADF will have to deal with the consequences of climate change
The Albanese Government has accepted a recommendation in the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) that the Australian Defence Force be released from most of its domestic disaster response roles to concentrate on the increasing regional security risks. This is welcome and likely means that the Commonwealth will significantly expand Australia’s civilian capacity to respond to climate-driven natural disasters.
The burning horizon - Openforum
The latest United Nations scientific synthesis report on climate change, released yesterday, warns that significant additional global warming is already locked in and catastrophic climate impacts are rapidly becoming more likely. What will this mean for Australia? The government has already produced Australia’s first climate and security risk assessment to help answer that question. It was considered by cabinet late last year.
Government must be up front with Australians about climate risks
The latest United Nations scientific synthesis report on climate change, released yesterday, warns that significant additional global warming is already locked in and catastrophic climate impacts are rapidly becoming more likely. What will this mean for Australia? The government has already produced Australia’s first climate and security risk assessment to help answer that question. It was considered by cabinet late last year.
Every Australian will be touched by climate change. So let's start a national conversation about how we'll cope
Thu Dec 29 Written by Robert Glasser, Honorary Professor, Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, Australian National University In an address to the National Press Club this month, Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil expressed deep concern about the national security implications of climate change. “When Home Affairs was created, the discussion about climate change and national security was largely academic. Indeed, it was derided by the former government,” O'Neil said.
Australia needs a comprehensive national plan for adapting to climate change
In an address to the National Press Club this month, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil expressed deep concern about the national security implications of climate change. ‘When Home Affairs was created, the discussion about climate change and national security was largely academic. Indeed, it was derided by the former government,’ O’Neil said.
Every Australian will be touched by climate change. So let's start a national conversation about how we'll cope
In an address to the National Press Club this month, Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil expressed deep concern about the national security implications of climate change. “When Home Affairs was created, the discussion about climate change and national security was largely academic. Indeed, it was derided by the former government,” O'Neil said.
China’s investment in renewable energy in the Indo-Pacific brings risks—and opportunities | The Strategist
Next week’s meeting of the G20, hosted by Indonesia, will feature discussions on climate change and the need to accelerate the global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables. Jakarta is also expected formally to announce that it’s joining the Just Energy Transition Partnership, a multibillion-dollar G7 initiative led by the US, France, Germany, the UK and the EU that’s designed to assist emerging economies with accelerating their transitions to renewables.
Simultaneous climate hazards are supercharging global systemic risk
Leaders from across the region are convening in Brisbane this week at the Asia–Pacific Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction. The meeting, co-hosted by Australia and the United Nations, will discuss ways to accelerate international efforts to reduce disaster risk. They have their work cut out for them. The year so far has brought a string of headline-grabbing environmental catastrophes.
Australia’s finally acknowledged climate change is a national security threat. Here are 5 mistakes to avoid
The climate policies of the former Morrison government were widely panned – largely for a weak commitment to cutting emissions and a slow transition to renewable energy. But amid all the shortcomings, arguably the biggest was the Coalition’s neglect of security threats posed by climate change. The Albanese government has moved to address this gap. It has launched an urgent review of climate and security risk led by intelligence chief Andrew Shearer, working closely with Defence.
Australia's finally acknowledged climate change is a national security threat. Here are 5 mistakes to avoid
Mon Jul 11 Written by Robert Glasser, Honorary Professor, Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Bianca Di Marchi/AAP The climate policies of the former Morrison government were widely panned – largely for a weak commitment to cutting emissions and a slow transition to renewable energy. But amid all the shortcomings, arguably the biggest was the Coalition’s neglect of security threats posed by climate change. The Albanese government...
Australia's finally acknowledged climate change is a national security threat. Here are 5 mistakes to avoid
The climate policies of the former Morrison government were widely panned – largely for a weak commitment to cutting emissions and a slow transition to renewable energy. But amid all the shortcomings, arguably the biggest was the Coalition’s neglect of security threats posed by climate change. The Albanese government has moved to address this gap. It has launched an urgent review of climate and security risk led by intelligence chief Andrew Shearer, working closely with Defence.
Top five episodes of Policy Forum Pod in 2021
What conversations mattered most to you in 2021? To get rolling in 2022, we look back at your favourite Policy Forum Pod episodes from the last 12 months. 2021 was a big year for Policy Forum Pod, with hosts Sharon Bessell and Arnagretta Hunter taking the reins full time. We covered plenty of ground across 44 episodes, with mini-series on Indigenous wellbeing, leadership, work, and the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, plus a whole range of regular episodes.
Climate and Security Policy Centre
The rapidly emerging crisis on our doorstep
Gladys Berejiklian was wrong to say the NSW floods were beyond anyone's expectations
© Getty Berejiklian was wrong to say the NSW floods were beyond anyone's expectations Premier Gladys Berejiklian has described the devastating flooding in NSW as a "one-in-100-year event" that was "beyond anyone's expectations". She's wrong on both counts. Climate change is rapidly increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as the floods that are now spilling over Warragamba Dam.
To reduce disasters, we must cut greenhouse emissions. So why isn't the bushfire Royal Commission talking about this?
With next fire season already underway, the bushfire Royal Commission yesterday released an interim report. Its observations in the wake of our Black Summer suggest the commission’s final report, due on October 28, may recommend a major shake-up of how disaster management is governed at the federal level. This includes setting up a national body focused on recovery from and resilience to future disasters. Most initial observations are uncontroversial and sensible, but there is a glaring omission.
ASPI Publication Launch - After Covid-19: Australia and the world rebuild
Please enable javascript to access the full functionality of this site event ASPI Publication Launch - After Covid-19: Australia and the world rebuild Breadcrumb Home ASPI Publication Launch - After Covid-19: Australia and the world rebuild ASPI Publication Launch - After Covid-19: Australia and the world rebuild Speakers Peter Jennings, Huong Le Thu , Fergus Hanson and Robert Glasser Event details Date: 06 May 2020 Time:12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Venue: Online ASPI warmly invites you to our webinar...
Urgent action needed to boost Australia’s preparedness for disasters
There’s a powerful moment in the recent Four Corners episode ‘Black summer’ in which a police car, driving through a Sunshine Coast town that is engulfed in flames, receives a call to rescue a 93-year-old man.
Preventing disaster from striking Australia’s economy
The $3.9 billion emergency response fund announced in the Morrison government’s pre-election budget will resonate with the tens of thousands of Australians who, over recent months, have suffered terribly from record-setting droughts, floods and bushfires. Under the new arrangements, the government would make available up to $150 million a year from the fund between 2019–20 to 2023–24 (as a top-up to existing support) following a significant and catastrophic natural disaster.
Australia needs a national plan to face the growing threat of climate disasters
We are entering a new era in the security of Australia, not because of terrorism, the rise of China, or even the cybersecurity threat, but because of climate change. If the world warms beyond 2℃, as seems increasingly likely, an era of disasters will be upon us, with profound implications for how we organise ourselves to protect Australian lives, property and economic interests, and our way of life.
Editors’ picks for 2019: ‘Preparing for the Era of Disasters’
Editors’ picks for 2019: ‘Preparing for the Era of Disasters’ Originally published 6 March 2019. We are entering a new era in the security of Australia, not because of terrorism, the rise of China or even the cybersecurity threat, but because of climate change.
Preparing for the Era of Disasters
Please enable javascript to access the full functionality of this site report Preparing for the Era of Disasters Breadcrumb Home Preparing for the Era of Disasters 06 March 2019 Preparing for the Era of Disasters By Robert Glasser Preparing for the Era of Disasters, a new ASPI Special Report by Dr Robert Glasser, warns that we are entering a new era in the security of Australia, not because of terrorism, the rise of China or even the cybersecurity threat, but because of climate change.
Preparing for the Era of Disasters
We are entering a new era in the security of Australia, not because of terrorism, the rise of China or even the cybersecurity threat, but because of climate change. As the world warms 2°C beyond preindustrial levels, as now seems increasingly likely, we will enter an Era of Disasters with profound implications for how we organise ourselves to protect Australian lives, property and economic interests and our way of life.
A difference of degrees: the looming climate catastrophe
The release earlier this month of a major UN-sponsored scientific report on the significant impacts expected from 1.5°C of global warming—the aspirational limit countries adopted in the Paris climate agreement—generated widespread media interest. Much of the commentary has rightly focused on the rapidly closing window of opportunity to achieve the aspiration and the huge scale of the societal changes required. But the recent coverage has largely overlooked an equally important aspect of the study.
The Cascading Impacts of Climate Change - AIIA
Earlier this month, the World Bank released a major study warning that more than 800 million people reside in areas that by 2050 will become dangerous climate hotspots. As bad as this seems, reports of this kind fail to take full account of the cascading impacts of a warming planet. The World Bank has released this month a major study warning that more than 800 million people—almost half of South Asia’s population—reside in areas that by 2050 will become dangerous climate hotspots.
How Can We Restore Hope to the World's Slum Dwellers?
Hope comes in many forms to poor people who live on less than $2.50 per day There is much grief and suffering in Nairobi's Kijiji slum following a fire which has underlined once more the inadequacy of infrastructure and basic services provided to almost one billion people who live in circumstances of unacceptable deprivation in slums around the world.
Africa: How Can We Restore Hope to the World's Slum Dwellers?
opinion By Robert Glasser | UnisdrHope comes in many forms to poor people who live on less than $2.50 per day There is much grief and suffering in Nairobi's Kijiji slum following a fire which has underlined once more the inadequacy of infrastructure and basic services provided to almost one billion people who live in circumstances of unacceptable deprivation in slums around the world.
How can we restore hope to the world's slum dwellers?
* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation. Hope comes in many forms to poor people who live on less than $2.50 per day There is much grief and suffering in Nairobi’s Kijiji slum following a fire which has underlined once more the inadequacy of infrastructure and basic services provided to almost one billion people who live in circumstances of unacceptable deprivation in slums around the world.
How can we restore hope to the world's slum dwellers?
* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation. Hope comes in many forms to poor people who live on less than $2.50 per day There is much grief and suffering in Nairobi’s Kijiji slum following a fire which has underlined once more the inadequacy of infrastructure and basic services provided to almost one billion people who live in circumstances of unacceptable deprivation in slums around the world.
GLASSER: Five things to make your city liveable
We need to reduce the likelihood of people dying in urban disasters by ensuring that basic early warning systems are in place. Earthquakes and tsunamis kill more people, but extreme weather events displace more than 20 million people each year. Over the past 20 years, extreme weather events have doubled and now account for 90 per cent of all the major recorded disasters. Do you want to make your city the most liveable place in the world, or as good as?
Africa: Climate Change Is a Threat to Rich and Poor Alike
opinion By Achim Steiner, Patricia Espinosa and Robert GlasserIs this year's string of hurricanes a sign of things to come? From Miami and Puerto Rico to Barbuda and Havana, the devastation of this year's hurricane season across Latin America and the Caribbean serves as a reminder that the impacts of climate change know no borders. In recent weeks, Category 5 hurricanes have brought normal life to a standstill for millions in the Caribbean and on the American mainland.
Climate change is a threat to rich and poor alike
From Miami and Puerto Rico to Barbuda and Havana, the devastation of this year’s hurricane season across Latin America and the Caribbean serves as a reminder that the impacts of climate change know no borders. In recent weeks, Category 5 hurricanes have brought normal life to a standstill for millions in the Caribbean and on the American mainland. Harvey, Irma and Maria have been particularly damaging.
OPINION: Climate Change is a Threat to Rich and Poor Alike
From Miami and Puerto Rico to Barbuda and Havana, the devastation of this year’s hurricane season across Latin America and the Caribbean serves as a reminder that the impacts of climate change know no borders. In recent weeks, Category 5 hurricanes have brought normal life to a standstill for millions in the Caribbean and on the American mainland. Harvey, Irma and Maria have been particularly damaging.
Climate change is a threat to rich and poor alike
* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation. Is this year's string of hurricanes a sign of things to come? From Miami and Puerto Rico to Barbuda and Havana, the devastation of this year’s hurricane season across Latin America and the Caribbean serves as a reminder that the impacts of climate change know no borders.
Averting disaster
In recent times, Category 5 hurricanes in the Caribbean and in the American mainland; record floods across Bangladesh, India and Nepal; and drought emergencies in 20 countries in Africa have damaged these regions, killed hundreds, and ruined the lives of millions.
Africa: Gender Equality Can Save Women's Lives in Disasters - We Must Not Miss the Opportunity to Set This Right
opinion By Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Robert GlasserUnited Nations — Later this month, the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) will take place in Mexico. This meeting provides an important opportunity to reboot global progress on embedding gender equality in disaster risk management and redress deadly exclusion. Even though the quality of disaggregated data needs to be improved, research shows that women and girls die in much greater numbers in extreme disaster events.
How can we make earthquakes less deadly?
By Robert Glasser, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction A four-storey hotel collapses, killing a family of four who were bringing a precious daughter to start her first year at medical school. Across Ecuador and Japan, hundreds of thousands are left homeless. Bridges have collapsed. Roads are torn to shreds and blocked by landslides. Farmland is churned back to raw earth.
Three ways of communicating to stop disasters happening
This past March, Peru was hit by devastating floods. Media reports led with death tolls and declarations of states of emergency. People volunteered their help on Facebook and offered refuge in their homes to those seeking shelter on Airbnb. News coverage builds awareness of crises, drums up donations and connects the needy with people who can help. But are we leveraging the full potential of media and communication to stop disasters happening in the first place?
Gender Equality Can Save Women’s Lives in Disasters - We must not miss the opportunity to set this right
UNITED NATIONS, May 11 2017 (IPS) - Later this month, the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) will take place in Mexico. This meeting provides an important opportunity to reboot global progress on embedding gender equality in disaster risk management and redress deadly exclusion. Even though the quality of disaggregated data needs to be improved, research shows that women and girls die in much greater numbers in extreme disaster events.
Mexico meeting to bring world together on disaster prevention
* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation. We have got much better at managing disasters but are less focused on reducing risk Two years have passed quickly since the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction kicked off one of the most ambitious projects in the history of the United Nations: the all-encompassing 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda is designed to pull the planet back from the brink.
Forum aims to link - and strengthen - African adaptation efforts
Africa has no shortage of climate change adaptation projects and efforts, but effectively linking them – and bringing in other key players such as policymakers and business – remains a challenge. Making it happen, however, is likely to be crucial for everything from getting enough climate finance to Africa to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Understanding business interruption and property insurance values
Determining business interruption values includes analyzing the various exposures the company will have with a disruptive event. (Photo: iStock)As the insurance market continues to require increasingly detailed information and comprehensive valuations, calculating appropriate values will help organizations select the proper coverage, set realistic limits and better manage their risk.
Questioning assumptions about disaster risk
The anniversaries of disaster events are like links in a chain of memories that remind us of how precious life is and of our exposure to man-made and natural hazards. The fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami is an occasion to remember those who lost their lives in that tragic sequence of events and to raise awareness of the dangers of synchronized failure in our technology-dependent world.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Robert
Contact Robert, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack