Extreme Weather Impact - WMO Report [UPSC Notes]

In an updated report, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that extreme weather, climate and water-related events that occurred over the past fifty years resulted in the killing of 2 million people and economic damages worth 4.3 trillion. We dissect this information in this article from the perspective of the IAS exam. This topic is relevant for the environment and ecology segment.

Extreme Weather Events and Their Impacts

In a recently held congress (2023) among member states, WMO set a target date of 2027 to improve alert systems for extreme weather events.

• WMO also said early warning systems have helped reduce deaths linked to climate and other weather-related disasters.
• The economic impact of extreme weather events in relation to GDP is felt more in developing countries according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• 9 out of 10 deaths worldwide took place in developing countries.
• The United States experienced the most economic damage between 1970 and 2021 totalling $1.7 trillion.
• Data for extreme weather-related events in India:
  • Between 1970 and 2021, 570 disasters killed 138,377 people.
  • IMD data reported that in 2022, India recorded 2227 casualties due to extreme weather-related events.
• Most vulnerable communities bear the brunt of weather, climate and water-related hazards.
• The findings were part of an update to WMO’s Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water Extremes, which previously had covered a nearly 50-year period through 2019.
• Tropical cyclones were the major cause of disasters. Africa accounted for more than 1,800 disasters and 733,585 deaths. 

Extreme Weather Impact – WMP Report:- Download PDF Here