Bangladesh incurs nearly $3 billion in annual disaster losses due to extreme weather, affecting over 6.3 million people, according to Germanwatch’s “Climate Risk Index 2025” report. The report emphasizes that developing nations are disproportionately impacted by climate change, highlighting the need for increased climate finance and risk management measures as they face escalating disasters.
Bangladesh experiences an annual economic loss of nearly $3 billion due to extreme climatic events such as floods, droughts, storms, and heatwaves, impacting over 6.3 million individuals each year. This alarming statistic is featured in Germanwatch’s “Climate Risk Index 2025,” released on February 13. The report underscores that developing nations, especially in the Global South, are at greater risk from these severe weather events.
Between 1993 and 2022, over 9,400 extreme weather incidents resulted in approximately 800,000 fatalities and economic damages totaling $4.2 trillion globally. Dominica, China, and Honduras are noted as the nations most adversely affected by floods, storms, and heatwaves, with Bangladesh ranked 31st in terms of impact. The Climate Risk Index evaluates the human and economic repercussions of such disasters, assessing fatalities, injuries, and homelessness.
Notably, a devastating heatwave from March to May 2022, reaching an unprecedented 49.5°C in Nawabshah, Pakistan, was succeeded by severe flooding. This heat spread into India and Bangladesh, leading to over 90 deaths across the three nations. A real-time study indicated that climate change increased the likelihood of this heatwave by 30 times, underlining the intensifying threats posed by compounding climatic events.
Despite its high vulnerability to climate change, Bangladesh has made significant strides in reducing disaster-related fatalities through effective climate adaptation and disaster risk management strategies. The report praises Bangladesh as a global model in this regard, highlighting that cyclone-related deaths have decreased remarkably, from 500,000 during the 1970 cyclone to 4,234 in 2007 due to robust risk prevention measures.
While China, India, and the Philippines routinely encounter extreme events, countries such as Dominica, Honduras, Myanmar, and Vanuatu exhibit higher susceptibility to extraordinary weather disasters. Additionally, nations including Italy, Spain, and Greece rank among the top 10 globally affected countries over the past three decades, according to the report.
Laura Schaefer, Head of International Climate Policy at Germanwatch, cautions that the ongoing climate crisis poses a significant global security risk, necessitating decisive multilateral actions. She emphasizes that incomplete data may underestimate the gravity of the situation, particularly in the Global South, where increasing instability and conflicts are signaling an unpredictable phase of the crisis.
David Eckstein, senior advisor for Climate Finance at Germanwatch, asserts that inadequate climate actions have dire ramifications, even for affluent nations. He indicates that the $4.2 trillion in losses over the last 30 years is comparable to Germany’s entire GDP and warns that further delay in mitigation strategies will lead to even more extensive human and economic consequences.
The forthcoming Brazil Climate Summit is urged to address the pressing issue of insufficient climate finance for vulnerable countries. Lina Adil, Policy Advisor for Adaptation and Loss & Damage at Germanwatch, states that limited resources exacerbate the challenges faced by affected nations and emphasizes the necessity for intensified actions to meet the 1.5°C global warming target.
The Climate Risk Index reveals that certain extreme weather events can lead to economic losses surpassing a whole country’s GDP. Vera Kuenzel, senior advisor for Adaptation and Human Rights at Germanwatch, advocates for stronger climate risk management practices and enhanced support for the most vulnerable nations to mitigate human and economic damages.
In summary, Bangladesh faces significant financial losses due to climate disasters, with over 6 million people affected annually. Despite this, the country has made commendable progress in disaster management. The Climate Risk Index report stresses the urgent need for a global collective effort to enhance climate financing for vulnerable nations and strengthen their resilience against extreme weather events.
Original Source: www.tbsnews.net
