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The Risk and Impacts of Climate (Weather) - Related Natural Disaster Such as Storm

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Human activity has become so widespread, invariably contributing to the changes in global climate, which are consequently having a negative effect on weather patterns and the frequency and severity of weather related natural disasters. Global warming has become alarming recently. Over the past decades, research has been conducted on climate change and its impact and how it directly or indirectly influences the health and well being of the planet and its inhabitants. This essay will cover the risk and impacts of climate (weather) – related natural disasters such as storms, floods, droughts, rainfall and extreme temperature.
Research over the past few decades has done much to clarify the evidence that global climate is changing and these changes are largely due to human influence. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC),(2014) linked the risks of climate change to the increase in emission of greenhouse gas through human activities resulting from increased in population and economic growth. According to World Health Organization (WHO), (2014) the increase in human activities has impose dextra force on the climate system, most especially the burning of fossil fuels result in the emission of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide. They accumulate and cause extra heat on the surface temperature, increasing the climate variability and influencing climate change.As the atmosphere accumulates energy, it yields to the increasing greenhouse gas concentration causing climate change and extreme weather that may lead to natural disasters; heatwaves, storms, cyclones, floods, and droughts.
The impacts of climate and extreme weather on human activities are numerous ranging from agricultural to social to industrial production.Disaster events such as storms, floods and landslides are responsible for more than half all of natural disasters occurring in Europe since 1980. According to IPCC (2014) the risks of climate change in urban areas with poor amenities is high. Developing countries are prone to these types of hazards due to bad infrastructures and the level of poverty, which is a health and economic concern. The impact of natural disaster in developing countries breeds poverty. As climate change advances, its impact becomes more negative, displacing people in their homes, and affecting jobs, causing health problems and exposing people to different diseases.
Climatic change reduces economic growth as it destroys the property of millions of people. It slows down development in developing countries and affects the ability of government to provide food and services for people. IPCC (2014)states that “from a poverty perspective, climate change impacts are projected to slow down economic growth, make poverty reduction more difficult, further erode food security and prolong existing and create new poverty traps”.Economic losses resulting from weather and climate – related disasters have increased over the years. Unabated climate change would create scarcity of staple food and freshwater thereby disrupting social and economic condition. This will increase the number of people at risk of hunger.
Heatwave has created a cause for concern since the European heatwave summer of 2003 in August that killed almost 70,000people. According to Rabie, as cited in Baker (2012) “such ‘excess death’ or death above established seasonal norms are increasing at an alarming rate.” The cause of death was extreme high temperature resulting from the influence of climate change on extreme weather. According to the studies, heatwave has become more intense and frequent. Furthermore, flooding is estimated to be the most frequent disaster in Europe. According to WHO(2014) extreme weather increases the risk of river and coastal flooding and contaminates the supply of freshwater hence the risk of water –borne diseases and mosquitoes which transmit malaria that causes people ill – health. Changes in population, economic wealth and activities in hazard prone areas are risks associated with floods and storm. This accounts for the major economic losses arising from natural disaster The impact of climate change calls for a rapid reduction in the emission carbon dioxide, as the continued increase in greenhouse gas concentration will have a worse effect on climate and weather system. Already the climate is changing and this trend will persist through the years if actions are not implemented quickly. Given the increasing severity of extreme events, the uncertainties of changes in the earth natural system and the human impact, adaptive strategies have to be put in force to lessen those impacts.Protecting coastal communities and reducing the emission of greenhouse gas concentrations through the provision of good transport, food and energy use choices and reduced air pollution can result in improved health and will likely reduce the frequent occurrence of natural disasters WHO (2014). It is necessary for climate scientists, policy- makers and the communities mostly affected are to come together, to discuss on the best strategies to adapt to prevent drastic natural disasters from occurring and to protect humans.

Reference List
Baker, J. L. (Ed.). (2012). Urban Development:Climate Change, Disaster Risk, and the Urban Poor:Cities Building Resilience for a Changing World. Herndon, VA, USA: World Bank Publications. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
IPCC (2014). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC Fifth Assessment Synthesis Report:Climate Change 2014.Retrieved from http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_SPM.pdf

WHO (2014). Climate and Health. Retrieve from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs266/en/?&session-id=6386996e233aeed4a04e0e02981f4ce6

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