A total of 480,000 people have died due to natural disasters linked to extreme weather events in the last 20 years, reported AFP.  A new assessment provides information on the direct threat posed to humanity by climate change.

During the Climate Adaptation Summit, which was held virtually this year due to the pandemic, the think tank Germanwatch calculated that natural disasters have cost the global economy a staggering $2.56 trillion this century.

According to Germanwatch, an analysis of over 11,000 extreme weather events showed nearly 480,000 fatalities since 2000. Countries such as Puerto Rico, Myanmar and Haiti are the worst hit.

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The 2015 Paris climate deal states that wealthier nations are supposed to provide $100 billion every year to help poorer states mitigate temperature rises and adapt to the changing climate. 

However,  recent research suggests the true amount of funding available to developing countries for climate action is vastly lower.

Germanwatch’s Global Climate Index examined the impact of two decades of extreme weather events, particularly the 2019 storm season, which produced hurricanes and cyclones that devastated parts of the Caribbean, east Africa and south Asia.

Co-author David Eckstein said, “This shows that poor vulnerable countries face particularly great challenges in dealing with the consequences of extreme weather events.” 

He added, “They urgently need financial and technical assistance.”

Adaptation, reducing the fallout among communities and increasing their capacity to deal with climate-related disasters such as floods and drought, is a pillar of the Paris accord.

The deal earmarks $50 billion annually to adaptation, but as disasters have multiplied in the years since it was struck, the United Nations says the cost will balloon over the coming years.

Out of an estimated $70 billion needed by developing nations each year, only $30 billion is currently available.

In its Adaptation Gap report this month, the UN’s Environment Programme said the true annual cost of adapting to climate impacts could be as high as $300 billion by 2030 and $500 billion by mid-century.

Eight out of the top ten most affected countries on Monday’s index have low or lower middle income per capita.

“Poorer countries are hit hardest because they are more vulnerable to the damaging effects of a hazard and have lower coping capacity,” said co-author Vera Keunzel.

She said countries such as Haiti, the Philippines and Pakistan were hit nearly constantly by extreme weather events, leading them no time to fully recover from one disaster before the next strikes.

The Climate Adaptation Summit, hosted by the Netherlands, will see countries convene virtually to seek “clear commitments to deliver concrete new endeavours” to help countries deal with the changing climate.