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Climate change fuels disasters, but deaths don't add up
Global heat-related deaths rose 63% from 1990-1999 to 2012-2021 despite overall disaster fatalities declining, with low-income nations facing higher risks, experts say.
- Last week, EM-DAT data and annual climate reports show overall disaster mortality has fallen, while heatwave deaths rose to 66,825 in 2024 amid the hottest three years recorded.
- Rising temperatures are increasing heatwaves, floods and storms, while better preparedness with early warning systems and building codes has cut some disaster deaths, experts say.
- More than 2.3 million people died from weather-related events between 1970 and 2025, with storm and flood fatalities falling but heat deaths underreported due to CRED's year-long data delay.
- The Lancet Countdown found heatwaves have become deadlier and low-income nations face far greater risk, while experts warn rising temperatures fuel hotter summers, floods, storms, wildfires and droughts.
- With events clustering, Munich Re reported deaths from floods, storms, wildfires and earthquakes rose to 17,200 last year, noting spikes caused by major earthquakes in Myanmar and Afghanistan complicate trends.
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29 Articles
29 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources29
Leaning Left2Leaning Right10Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Right
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources lean Right
53% Right
C 37%
R 53%
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