2021 Saw Lowest Global Death Rate From Weather Disasters On Record

The three graphs [below, click to enlarge] report progress to date with respect to the three quantitative indicators of the U.N. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2005 to 2030. [bold, links added]

The time period covered in each graph above is set to the period covered by the Sendai Framework, which is 2005 to the present.

Goals of the framework are specifically to:

• (a) Substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower the average per 100,000 global mortality rate in the decade 2020–2030 compared to the period 2005–2015;
• (b) Substantially reduce the number of affected people globally by 2030, aiming to lower the average global figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020–2030 compared to the period 2005–2015;10
• (c) Reduce direct disaster economic loss in relation to the global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030;

Overall, these data suggest a reason for optimism. While there remain eight years until 2030, and a lot can happen, the recent declines in mortality, people affected and direct damages per GDP are each part of a much longer-term downward trend in each of these indicators (I have posted these longer-term trends on Twitter).

Progress to date underscores the continued importance of disaster risk reduction efforts if we wish progress to continue.

Let me end with an absolutely incredible statistic: 2021 saw just over 6,100 recorded deaths due to weather and climate disasters, representing about 1 in 1,300,000 people.

That is the lowest global death rate in weather and climate disasters over the period of reliable records, and I’d venture, the lowest in human history. Think about that.

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