Natural disasters cost the world $1.5 trillion between 2003 and 2013: FAO
The average number of annual climate change-related disasters between 2003 and 2013 was twice that during the 1980s, says the report
New Delhi: Globally, the average number of annual climate change-related disasters between 2003 and 2013 was twice that during the 1980s, according to a new Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report released on Thursday, ahead of the United Nations climate change conference in Paris.
The study, titled The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security, found that between 2003 and 2013, natural disasters caused $1.5 trillion in damages worldwide. In developing countries, damages were estimated at about $550 billion and affected 2 billion people, it said.
Economic losses have reached an average of $250-300 billion a year, severely affecting stable economic growth in low-and middle-income countries and eroding development gains in vulnerable communities, the study said.
The study found that in developing countries, the agriculture sector absorbs an average of 22% of the total damage and losses caused by disasters.
The study further said 84% of the damage and losses caused by droughts is to the agriculture sector, while the rest is to sectors like health and nutrition, energy, water and sanitation.
The increase in weather-related events is of significant concern to the agriculture sector given its dependence on climate, the study said, adding that the urgent need to strengthen the resilience of food systems is clear given the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters, coupled with the rising demand for food on account of population growth.
The study used FAO’s agricultural database to quantify crop and livestock production losses, as well as changes in trade flows and the performance of agriculture value-add associated with 140 medium- and large-scale disasters (affecting at least 250 000 people) that occurred in 67 developing countries between 2003 and 2013.
Approximately $80 billion was lost as a result of declines in crop and livestock production after these disasters. This corresponds to 333 million tonnes of cereals, pulses, meat, milk and other commodities, the study said.
Over time, damage and loss to the agriculture sector accumulate as a result of recurring disasters, constraining agricultural growth and development, the study warned.
The findings from the study are conservative, FAO said, as the analysis is based on medium- and large-scale disasters, and on selected agricultural commodities.
Including the thousands of so-called silent disasters that mainly hit agriculture, as well as other small-scale disasters, would likely increase the reported losses, it said.
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