In 2024, the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) recorded 393 natural hazard-related disasters. These events caused 16,753 fatalities and affected 167.2 million people. Economic losses totaled US$241.95 billion. The year 2024 was marked by extreme temperature events in Asia that caused thousands of deaths, severe droughts in Africa affecting over 25 …
Natural and man-made disasters around the world this year, including Superstorm Sandy, will cost at least $140 billion (106 billion euros), according to a study published by Swiss insurance group Swiss Re yesterday. The insurance industry will cover about $65 billion of all losses from such catastrophes, the study showed, …
There were no reports of casualties as Tropical Cyclone Evan roared over the Pacific island nation on Monday, uprooting palm trees, tearing roofs off buildings and blowing down power lines. A category four storm, the second highest level, when it hit Fiji, Evan had weakened and moved about 160km (100 …
US researchers may just have unravelled dynamics behind the torrential rain and flash floods in the high desert valley of Leh in the Himalayas in 2010. It might now be possible to look out for flash flood warnings, says Kristen Rasmussen, a University of Washington graduate student in atmospheric sciences. …
The stormwater drain (rajakaluve) at 1st Block HRBR Layout has been causing untold troubles for the residents. The filth, the unending mosquito menace and sewage water pumped into the drain have put people’s health at serious risk. Despite many complaints, the BWSSB and BBMP have done little to address the …
In a bid to arrest the rapid depletion of mangroves, the state forest department has mooted a proposal to acquire mangroves in private land along the Kerala coast, perhaps for the first time in the country. The owners would be adequately compensated, forest department sources said. Individuals have been holding …
Increasing human pressures and ecosystem changes are posing combined threat to the population of endangered Royal Bengal tigers, in Sundarbans. This has been stressed in an expert study titled ‘Sharing Lessons on Mangrove Restoration’. This has been conducted by the International Union For Conservation of Nature The Sundar-bans cover 10,000 …
Blocked roads and severed communications in southern Philippines frustrated rescuers on Wednesday as teams searched for hundreds of people missing after the strongest typhoon this year killed at least 283 people. Typhoon Bopha, with central winds of 120 kmph and gusts of up to 150 kmph, battered beach resorts and …
At least 43 villagers and soldiers drowned in a southern Philippine town today when torrents of water dumped by a powerful typhoon cascaded down a mountain, engulfing emergency shelters and an army truck, officials said. The deaths raised the toll from one of the strongest storms to hit the country …
United Nations climate talks on Monday entered their final week amid rows over the Kyoto Protocol and funding for poorer countries, despite fresh warnings of the peril from greenhouse gases. After six days of wrangling, nearly 200 nations remained far apart on issues vital for unlocking a global deal on …
Shanghai is a low-lying city (3–4 m elevation) surrounded on three sides by the East China Sea, the Yangtze River Estuary, and Hangzhou Bay. With a history of rapid changes in sea level and land subsidence, Shanghai is often plagued by extreme typhoon storm surges. The interaction of sea level …
Developing countries are not yet well adapted even to current climate risks: floods, droughts and storm. Yet those risks are becoming harsher as the world warms, climate extremes become more intense, and the oceans rise – the consequences of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. This evaluation draws lessons from World Bank …
This new edition of the Global Climate Risk Index presented by Germanwatch at the UN climate summit in Doha analyses to what extent countries have been affected by extreme weather events and has taken into account the most recent available data from 2011 as well as for the period 1992-2011. …
Dhaka Bangladeshi capital Dhaka has topped a global list of cities facing the highest climate change risks in the coming decades, while Indian metropolis Kolkata is ranked seventh, Mumbai eighth and Delhi at 20th. Manila, the capital city of The Philippines, was ranked second in the British risk consultancy Maplecroft's …
Bangladeshi capital Dhaka has topped a global list of cities facing the highest climate change risks in the coming decades, while Indian metropolis Kolkata is ranked seventh, Mumbai eighth and Delhi at 20th. Manila, the capital city of The Philippines, was ranked second in the British risk consultancy Maplecroft’s fifth …
Dhaka has been ranked the top city in the world to face the highest climate change risks in the coming years. The Bangladesh capital came top in the ranking of 50 cities by Maplecroft, a British firm specialising in risk analysis, as the changing temperatures and weather systems are forecast …
Multinational companies operating in the Asian growth economies will be exposed to spiralling environmental risks over the coming decades, according to Maplecroft’s 5th annual Climate Change and Environmental Risk Atlas , which identifies Dhaka, Manila, Bangkok, Yangon, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City and Kolkata as the cities facing the most …
Ban says more countries must follow Australia’s climate lead Ban Ki-moon re-elected as UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemns terror attack in Delhi Sandy battered US cities brace for another storm Don’t block Internet to prevent critisism: Ban Ki Moon Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that one of the main lessons …
A new storm brought heavy rains, snow and powerful winds to New York and New Jersey, leaving over 1700 flights cancelled and thousands of residents without power in the US East Coast, which is still reeling under the devastating impact of hurricane Sandy. The National Weather Service said the latest …
Hopes rise among green campaigners after president mentions 'the destructive power of a warming planet' in victory speech Barack Obama's invocation of "the destructive power of a warming planet" in his victory speech has stoked expectation that he will act on climate change in his second term. Environmental campaigners are …
