Issue Rising disasters from extreme weather events

Summary

Disasters caused by heatwaves, cold snaps, floods and droughts are becoming more frequent worldwide as record temperatures are broken year after year. Such disasters cause severe loss of life and property and spill economic damage into neighbouring areas, while vulnerable groups suffer more and recover more slowly. Climate whiplash, in which conditions swing abruptly from drought and wildfire to downpours and floods or the reverse, is intensifying, and new types of disaster such as flash droughts and summer wildfires are emerging. Deaths from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress are rising, GDP losses continue, and exposure to extreme weather raises risks of injury, death, post-traumatic stress and climate anxiety. AI and digital twins are becoming important for collecting and analysing risk information, operating infrastructure and carrying out search and rescue.