Extreme weather events linked with climate change, including hurricanes, wildfires and droughts, cost the world billions of pounds over the past year. Heatwaves tore across the northern hemisphere this summer, and devastating storms struck from the Caribbean to the Philippines. Besides taking thousands of lives, these events also had a massive economic impact, often for nations that are ill-equipped to shoulder such financial burden. A report published by Christian Aid has identified 10 of the most expensive natural disasters that struck in 2018, all of which cost at least $1bn (£790m) each. Among the most expensive events were Hurricanes Florence and Michael, which struck the US and parts of Central America and the Caribbean, and each cost at least $15bn (£12bn).
Independent 27th Dec 2018 read more »
WWF Scotland said 2018 has been a year of extremes, with the Beast from the East delaying spring and an unusually hot and dry summer bringing multiple challenges to our food producers. This came as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC] called for urgent, “game-changing” action on greenhouse gas emissions if the world was to keep warming below the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C goal.
The National 27th Dec 2018 read more »
