Climate Hazards: Vulnerable Communities Hardest Hit

By Whitney Akinyi

-Over 12,000 disasters occurred during the last 50 years-

Nearly 12,000 disasters have occurred between 1970 and 2021 with the vulnerable communities especially in least developed nations and small island states being the hardest hit, according to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) secretary general Petteri Taalas.

Asia emerged as the region with the highest death toll due to extreme weather events, climate disasters, and water-related incidents over the past five decades. With close to one million deaths, more than half occurred in Bangladesh alone. Meanwhile, in Africa, droughts accounted for a staggering 95 percent of the reported 733,585 climate disaster deaths.

Highlighting the recent severe cyclonic storm Mocha, which devastated coastal areas of Myanmar and Bangladesh, Mr. Taalas pointed out that early warnings and disaster management prevented the catastrophic mortality rates witnessed in the past, adding that such interventions have become instrumental in saving lives and preventing significant damage.

“Early warnings hold immense potential in climate change adaptation, as evidenced by WMO’s previous findings. Providing just 24 hours’ notice prior to an impending weather hazard can reduce ensuing damage by 30 percent. Therefore, early warnings are considered the “low-hanging fruit” of climate change adaptation, with a tenfold return on investment,” Taalas said.

In line with the importance of early warnings, the WMO unveiled its findings on the human and economic cost of weather-induced disasters at the quadrennial World Meteorological Congress held in Geneva. The congress focused on implementing the UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative, which aims to ensure that early warning services reach every corner of the globe by the end of 2027. UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched this initiative at the COP27 climate change conference in Sharm al-Sheikh in November last year.

Currently, only half of the world benefits from early warning systems, leaving Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries significantly behind. To expedite the initiative’s implementation, the UN chief convened agency heads and partners earlier this year. In 2023, the initiative will be rolled out in a first set of 30 particularly at-risk countries, with nearly half of them situated in Africa.

It is crucial to address the disproportionate impact of climate-related disasters on vulnerable communities. By expanding early warning systems and strengthening disaster management, the global community can save lives, mitigate economic losses, and ensure that no one is left behind in the face of climate hazards, WMO recommends.