Weather-related disasters have become more frequent and expensive over the last 50 years, according to a new report by the U.N.”s meteorological agency, but so far have killed fewer people than have historical disasters.
The World Meteorology Organisation (WMO) says its ‘Atlas’ is the most comprehensive assessment yet of mortality and economic losses caused by weather, water and climate extremes.
It examines about 11.000 disasters during 1979 to 2019, including major disasters, including Ethiopia’s 1983 drought, which was the deadliest single event with 300.000 deaths, and Hurricane Katrina in in 2005, which was the costliest, losing $163.61 billion.
The report found an accelerating trend: catastrophes virtually increased fivefold from the 1970s through the last decade, increasing evidence that extreme weather events are becoming more prevalent as a result of global warming.
The WMO attributed its increasing frequency, both to climate change and better disaster reporting.
Costs from the events also soared from $175.4 billion in the 1970 “s to $1.38 trillion in the 2010” s, as storms like Harvey, Maria, and Irma swept up the US.
The economic losses increase with exposure. Yet behind the sobering statistics lies a message of hope. Improved early warning systems that carry multiple risk have brought about a significant reduction in mortality.
But, while the dangers got more expensive and common, the number of yearly deaths has dropped from over 50.000 in the 1970s to about 18.000 in the 18,000 “s, suggesting that better planning is paying off.
Preliminary reports suggest #HurricaneIda is the fifth-strongest storm ever to make landfall in the continental U.S. https://t.co/BcPgk5V9RF pic.twitter.com/5NsEW3ZgUk
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) August 30, 2021
