Global climate risk index 2014

ISBN/ISSN: 9783943704143
Author(s): Kreft, Sönke; Eckstein, David
Number of pages: 27 p.

Who Suffers Most from Extreme Weather Events? Weather-Related Loss Events in 2012 and 1993 to 2012:
This year's edition analyses the quantified impacts of extreme weather events — both in terms of fatalities as well as economic losses that occurred — based on data from the Munich Re NatCatSERVICE and taking into account the most recent data available from 2012 and 1993–2012. It indicates a level of exposure and vulnerability to extreme events such as storms, cyclones, floods, heat waves, drought, etc., that countries should understand as warning to be prepared for more frequent and/or more severe events in the future. It represents one important piece in the overall, more comprehensive puzzle of climate-related impacts and associated vulnerabilities.

It reconfirms the conclusion that less developed countries are generally more affected than industrialised countries. It is intended to serve as a red flag for already existing vulnerability that may further increase in regions, where extreme events will become more frequent or more severe due to climate change. It calls for the climate summit 2013 held in Warsaw, Poland, to mark a turning point for the international community by starting immediately to scale-up its response in addressing climate change and the increasing loss and damage.