“Climate Change: Poor Suffer Most, 2m Deaths in 50 Years”

A recent report by the United Nations reveals that over 90% of deaths caused by disasters worldwide occur in developing countries. The report, published by the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), states that extreme weather has resulted in the deaths of two million people and $4.3 trillion in economic damage over the past 50 years. The report also highlights that 11,778 weather-related disasters have occurred between 1970 and 2021, with a significant increase in frequency over this period. Unfortunately, vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected by these disasters. Cyclone Mocha, which recently hit Myanmar and Bangladesh, is an example of this, with the poorest communities being impacted the most. However, the report also notes that improved early warning systems and coordinated disaster management have significantly reduced human casualties. The UN has launched a plan to ensure all nations are covered by disaster early warning systems by the end of 2027. While deaths have decreased, economic losses incurred in weather-related disasters have increased dramatically. The WMO warns that wealthy countries have been hardest hit in monetary terms, with developed nations accounting for over 60% of losses due to weather, climate, and water disasters.