Bangladesh Faces Significant Annual Disaster Losses Amid Climate Crisis

Bangladesh incurs annual disaster losses totaling nearly $3 billion due to extreme weather events affecting over 6.3 million people. The Climate Risk Index 2025 by Germanwatch highlights the disproportionate impact on Global South countries. While Bangladesh has made strides in disaster management, global action is urgently needed to address severe climate ramifications.

Bangladesh experiences an average annual disaster loss nearing $3 billion due to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, storms, and heatwaves, impacting over 6.3 million individuals each year. This data was sourced from Germanwatch’s “Climate Risk Index 2025,” released on February 13. The report underscores the significant toll of these events, especially on Global South countries, over the past three decades.

From 1993 to 2022, the world witnessed over 9,400 extreme weather events, resulting in nearly 800,000 deaths and generating substantial economic losses amounting to approximately $4.2 trillion. Among the most affected nations, Dominica, China, and Honduras faced severe weather disasters, while Bangladesh ranked 31st in terms of vulnerability.

The Climate Risk Index categorizes countries based on their economic and human impact due to extreme weather, including fatalities, injuries, and displacement. Notably, an intense heatwave in 2022, which peaked at 49.5°C in Nawabshah, Pakistan, was succeeded by severe flooding affecting India and Bangladesh, causing over 90 fatalities across these countries.

Research conducted by the World Weather Attribution project reveals that climate change has heightened the likelihood of such heatwaves by 30 times, indicating an increase in the risks associated with compounding climatic events. Although Bangladesh remains highly susceptible to climate change, its effective disaster risk management has notably reduced mortality rates from disasters. Over the past four decades, cyclone-related deaths have dropped dramatically from 500,000 to 4,234 by 2007.

The report indicates that while recurring extreme events plague countries like China, India, and the Philippines, other nations such as Dominica, Honduras, Myanmar, and Vanuatu experience extraordinary disasters. It also mentions Italy, Spain, and Greece as countries significantly impacted by extreme weather in the last three decades.

Germanwatch’s Laura Schaefer warns that climate change is evolving into a global security issue, necessitating urgent international cooperation. She highlights that the Global South is disproportionately affected, and gaps in data may obscure the true extent of the crisis, leading to mounting instability and conflicts.

David Eckstein from Germanwatch points out that inadequate climate action bears heavy repercussions, even for affluent nations. He emphasizes that the $4.2 trillion in losses over the past thirty years equates to Germany’s total GDP, and underscores the importance of proactive measures to circumvent escalating human and economic costs.

The forthcoming Brazil Climate Summit must address the issue of insufficient climate financing for vulnerable countries. Lina Adil, a Policy Advisor at Germanwatch, stresses that limited resources exacerbate the challenges faced by affected nations and advocates for robust mitigation strategies to adhere closely to the 1.5°C global warming threshold.

The Climate Risk Index also notes some extreme weather events yield economic damages surpassing the GDP of entire countries. Vera Kuenzel from Germanwatch reiterates the necessity for enhanced climate risk management and increased support for the most vulnerable nations to alleviate human and economic losses.

In conclusion, Bangladesh faces severe challenges due to extreme weather events, incurring significant economic losses and affecting millions annually. The Climate Risk Index report highlights the crucial need for improved climate finance, effective risk management, and international cooperation to mitigate these increasingly frequent climatic threats. It is imperative that the global community acts decisively to support vulnerable nations and reduces the impacts of climate change.

Original Source: www.tbsnews.net