Humanity stuck in ‘spiral of self-destruction’, UN says as global disasters rise
- A report found 350 to 500 medium- to large-scale disasters took place each year over the past 20 years, five times more than the average for the previous 30
- By 2030, the world will be experiencing 1.5 disasters a day on average
Humanity is suffering from a “broken perception of risk”, spurring us into activities and behaviours that cause climate change and a surging number of disasters around the globe, the United Nations warned on Tuesday.
In a fresh report, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, or UNDRR, found that between 350 and 500 medium- to large-scale disasters took place globally every year over the past two decades.
That is five times more than the average during the three preceding decades, it said.
And amid the changing climate, disastrous events brought on by drought, extreme temperatures and devastating flooding are expected to occur even more frequently going forward.
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Stunning timelapse footage of severe rains in Australia flooding bridges and roads
The report estimated that by 2030, we will be experiencing 560 disasters around the world every year – or 1.5 disasters every day on average.
UNDRR said in a statement that the sharp rise in disasters globally could be attributed to a “broken perception of risk based on optimism, underestimation and invincibility”.
