Citation

Bellizzi S, Pichierri G, Manca A, Panu Napodano CM. Public Health 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.puhe.2023.01.022

PMID

36858882

PMCID

PMC9970845

Abstract

In spite of the fact that the great majority of events are similar (floods and cyclones/typhoons represented 40% and 30%, respectively, of the major climate events per year during the last 5 years), although of different scale, the cost and consequences may be greatly different according to the context: the floods that submerged parts of Pakistan in June 2022 displaced 7 million people and caused more than 30 billion US dollars in estimated damages, with only 5.6 billion US dollars covered by insurance,2 which is much more problematic than in other countries like in Europe where coverage would be more extensive. To mention that Pakistan is the eighth most vulnerable country due to climate change, according to the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index,6 the World Bank estimated that the floods could drive up to 15 million people into poverty.7 Although hurricane Fiona was the most intense tropical cyclone ever to hit Canada, with winds of over 187 km per hour, no casualties were reported; on the other hand, the same hurricane killed eight people in Puerto Rico and impacted the Dominican Republic with 13,000 people displaced and nearly 1.2 million people experiencing water supply issues.2 Similarly, the typhoon Mangkhut killed 127 people in the Philippines and six people in China in 20188 and destroyed 10,000 homes.3

It is important to emphasize that the impacts and costs of climate events fall disproportionately on the poorest and most vulnerable in lower income countries because of aspects such as fewer assets, less insurance, and generally poorer access to comprehensive public health services.9, 10, 11, 12 The situation will be even more problematic, as there will be more intense and frequent weather events in coming years and decades, even with more ambitious environmental mitigation actions.

Language: en