Climate: In 2021, ever more expensive disasters, according to an NGO

In total, the most expensive Ten Catastophes exceeded $ 170 billion in damage, made at least 1,075 dead and moved more than 1.3 million people, according to Christian Aid.

Le Monde with AFP

The ten most expensive weather disasters of 2021 exceeded $ 170 billion (over 150 billion euros) of total damage, an increase in 2020 and reflects the growing impact of global warming, according to one British NGO.

These 10 disasters have also made at least 1,075 dead and moved more than 1.3 million people, according to the annual report from Christian Aid Posted Monday 27 December.

Last year, the amount of economic damage of the 10 most expensive weather events was calculated at nearly $ 150 billion by the NGO, which emphasizes that most evaluations “are based solely on insured damage. , which suggests even higher actual costs “.

This economic ranking is the disasters in the rich countries, more developed and better insured infrastructures, but the NGO recalls that “some of the most devastating extreme weather events of 2021 have struck poor countries, which have Little contributed to the causes of climate change “and where most of the damages are not insured. In South Sudan, floods whose economic cost could not be evaluated have affected some 800,000 people, for example, recalls Christian Aid.

IDA Storm, the most expensive disaster

The most expensive disaster was the IDA storm (at the end of August / early September), which led to flooding in New York, with $ 65 billion in estimated economic costs. Then come the floods of July in Germany, Belgium and in neighboring countries, with $ 43 billion of losses, then the winter storm URI in the United States, with a cold wave to Texas, who touched the electricity grid and makes 23 billion damage. A fourth catastrophe exceeds $ 10 billion in damage, floods in the province of Henan in China in July, for a cost of 17.6 billion.

Floods in British Columbia in Canada (November, 7.5 billion), the late Cold wave of April in France (5.6 billion), which ravaged prestigious vineyards, Cyclone Yas in India and in Bangladesh (May, 3 billion), the typhoon in-Fa in China (July, 2 billion), floods in Australia (March 2.1 billion) and Cyclone Tauktae in India and Sri Lanka (May, 1, 5 billion).

Mid-December, the Swiss RE reinsurer had published an overall estimate of the cost of natural disasters in 2021 around the world, estimated at about $ 250 billion, up 24% compared to 2020.

“The costs of climate change have been raised this year,” commented on a Kat Kramer statement, Climate Manager in Christian Aid and AUTURE of the report.

Weather disasters have always existed, but climate change caused by human activity increases their frequency and impacts, in accordance with the forecasts of scientists.

/Media reports.