Omicron" began to cast shadows of fear again

 "Omicron" began to cast shadows of fear again.

The "Air of Climate Breakdown" report for the year 2021 identifies the 15 most destructive climate events, with 10 of them incurring costs of $1.5 billion or more. Most estimates are based solely on insured losses, indicating that the actual financial costs may be even higher.

One of the events included in the report is Hurricane Ida,

which struck the United States in August, causing $65 billion in damages and resulting in the deaths of 95 people. In July, floods in Europe led to $43 billion in damages and claimed the lives of 240 people. Additionally, floods in China's Henan province caused $17.5 billion in damages, 320 fatalities, and left more than a million people homeless.

The report focuses on financial expenditures, which are generally higher in wealthier nations due to the higher value of their assets and their ability to afford insurance. Despite contributing minimally to climate change, poorer nations faced significant losses in 2021 due to extreme weather events, impacting food security, causing droughts, and exacerbating the effects of climate change.

South Sudan experienced a devastating flood,

displacing over 850,000 people, many of whom were already internally displaced. Eastern Africa is grappling with a severe drought, revealing the injustices of climate crises. Multiple disasters occurred in succession in 2021, such as Cyclone Yaas, which collided with India and Bangladesh in May, causing $3 billion in damages within a few days.

Among the ten most expensive events,

four occurred in Asia, with a total financial impact of $24 billion. However, the severe weather effects were felt globally. In Australia, floods in March left 18,000 people homeless and caused $2.1 billion in damages. In British Columbia, Canada, floods resulted in $7.5 billion in damages and forced 15,000 people to abandon their homes.

Recent sea hurricanes in America have incomplete data regarding insurance and financial losses. The worry is that climate-related expenditures will continue without relief. Aon, an insurance company, has warned that global natural disasters are expected to surpass the $100 billion insured loss limit in 2021, marking the sixth consecutive year, with 2021 being the fourth year in the last five.

The report sheds light on the slow but steady progress in addressing sustainable crises, such as droughts. Climate change, particularly the 2021 extreme events, has affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. The report emphasizes the urgent need for action on climate change and highlights the disparity in financial assistance to the weakest countries.

It is crucial to make additional efforts to provide financial aid to the weakest countries in 2022, especially those grappling with the constant losses due to climate change. Dr. Kate Kramer, Head of Climate Policy at Christian Aid, points out that the cost of climate change is severe not only in terms of financial losses but also in terms of deaths and displacements worldwide. Whether it's hurricanes and floods in some of the world's wealthiest countries or droughts and heatwaves in some of the poorest countries, the climate crisis continues to pose a severe threat to the world. While there was some progress in the COP26 summit, it is evident that the world is not on track to ensure a secure and prosperous future.