UN warns of number of natural disasters caused by climate change in 20 years
A street in Havana after Hurricane Irma hit, September 10, 2017. YAMIL LAGE / AFP
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Climate change has been the main cause of the doubling of natural disasters in the world since 2000, warns a report by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNSDIR).
The climatic disasters that went from 3,656 (1980-1999) to 6,681 (2000-2019) thus significantly increased the number of natural disasters.
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Between 2000 and 2019, 7,348 natural disasters were recorded worldwide, almost double the number between 1980 and 1999, reveals a report from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNSDIR).
These natural disasters have killed more than 1.2 million people since 2000.
The most frequent disasters over the past two decades are floods - which have doubled - and storms, and the UN is concerned that heat waves will occur in the next decade.
“
The Covid-19 has really made governments and the general public aware of the risks that surround us.
They can see that if the Covid-19 is this terrible, the climate emergency can be even worse,
”said the secretary general of UNSDIR.
The cost linked to these disasters has been close to 3 trillion dollars since 2000. Although significant, this figure is below reality since a large number of countries, particularly in Africa and Asia, do not provide electricity. information on the economic impact of disasters over the past 20 years.
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Environment
Climate change
UN
Natural disasters