By Vijay Jayaraj
Despite fearmongering that climate change could increase natural disasters, weather-related deaths have fallen dramatically.
According to the Emergency Event Database, the total number of global deaths from climate-related disasters per decade has declined by more than 96% since the 1920s. Data shows that there was an unprecedented decline in climate-related deaths between 1960 and 2020 compared to the period between 1920 and 1959.
This decline is even more impressive considering that the world's population more than quadrupled during this period, from about 2 billion in 1920 to almost 8 billion in 2020.
The dramatic decline in fatalities is not just a statistic; It represents a fundamental improvement in our species' ability to adapt and resist the forces of nature. It is a story of triumph over adversity and innovation in the face of danger.
Why the number of deaths has decreased
For millennia, the vagaries of the weather determined the rise and fall of civilizations, determined the success of crops, and all too often caused countless deaths. The 20th century, however, marked a crucial turning point in this ancient struggle.
One of the most important factors in reducing deaths has been the dramatic strengthening of infrastructure, particularly in developing countries. The World Meteorological Organization's State of the Global Climate 2023 noted that improved early warning systems and disaster management have further reduced the death toll from extreme weather events.
Bangladesh, once notorious for its cyclone-related deaths, has seen a dramatic decline in the number of victims. In 1970, Cyclone Bhola killed an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people. In contrast, 2020's Cyclone Amphan in Bangladesh caused significant damage but claimed fewer than 100 lives, largely due to early warnings and evacuation procedures.
The Netherlands, where much of the country lies below sea level, has been a pioneer in flood protection. Its system of dikes, levees and storm surge barriers, including the famous Maeslant structure near Rotterdam, has effectively protected the country from catastrophic flooding.
In the United States, the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project, created after the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, has prevented billions of dollars in flood damage. Similar projects around the world, from the Three Gorges Dam in China to the Thames Barrier in London, have saved countless lives.
In hurricane-prone areas, buildings are now designed to withstand high winds and flying debris. The implementation of strict building codes in Florida after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 significantly reduced structural damage in subsequent storms.
Likewise, earthquake-resistant construction techniques have saved numerous lives in seismically active regions. Japan's strict building codes, which require structures to withstand major earthquakes, have dramatically reduced the death toll from seismic events.
Drought was once one of the deadliest climate events, even ending the reigns of famous empires. Today, advances in agricultural technology and practices have resulted in a significant reduction in deaths from drought-related famines. For example, the development of drought-tolerant maize has helped millions of farmers in Africa.
Fans fear that causes of damage are being misreported
However, despite the unprecedented decline in deaths from natural disasters, some argue that the economic costs of natural disasters have increased. While financial losses have increased, this is partly due to a lack of planning, which exposes increasingly valuable property to the risks of storm surges and winds.
A classic example of this is the Indian city of Chennai (formerly Madras), where floods occur regularly due to the poor state of the infrastructure. The city's newest developments are in areas where water naturally accumulates and puts residents at risk during heavy rains.
Some time ago, while living in the same city, I surreally waded through knee-deep water to retrieve my luggage from a parking lot where the tide was up to my waist.
A simple analysis revealed that Chennai experienced heavy rains several times over many decades. Repeated flooding in this and other cities is primarily due to mismanagement, not climate change.
Where human ingenuity has been applied, it has been spectacularly successful in countering the threats to nature. Humanity's shortcoming in this story is its failure to appropriately apply its know-how rather than its failure to control an uncontrollable climate.
This commentary was first published on American Thinker on September 29, 2024.
Vijay Jayaraj is a science and research associate at the CO2 Coalition, Arlington, Virginia. He holds a master's degree in environmental science from the University of East Anglia and a postgraduate degree in energy management from Robert Gordon University, both in the United Kingdom, and a bachelor's degree in engineering from Anna University, India.
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