A Year of Climate Breakdown

Jan. 4, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ —  Christian Aid’s report, “Counting the Cost 2024,” analyses the economic impact of ten extreme weather events in 2024, revealing billions of dollars in losses and highlighting the disproportionate effect on poorer nations. The report underscores the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy, citing expert opinions stressing the escalating consequences of inaction.
Multiple sources corroborate the findings, emphasising the devastating impact of climate change across the globe and the need for adaptation measures. The report also touches on the significant human cost, with thousands of deaths and millions affected by displacement and loss of livelihoods.

The most significant impacts of the 2024 climate disasters included substantial financial costs, widespread human suffering, and significant environmental damage.

Financial Costs:

The ten most financially costly events of 2024 each caused more than $4 billion in damage.

These estimates are largely based on insured losses, suggesting that the actual financial impact may be even higher.

Hurricane Milton was the single biggest event, costing the US $60 billion.

Storm Boris in central Europe and floods in Spain and Germany caused a combined loss of $13.87 billion.

Other extreme weather events, such as Hurricane Helene, also caused damage in the tens of billions

Human Suffering:

Many extreme weather events in 2024 resulted in significant loss of life and displacement of populations.

The report highlights that many disasters occurred in poorer countries where people often lack insurance and where data is less available.

Hurricane Helene killed 232 people.

Typhoon Yagi killed more than 800 people.

Floods in Brazil killed 183 people.

The report notes that the “human suffering caused by the climate crisis reflects political choices”.

Heatwaves affected 33 million people in Bangladesh.

The drought in Southern Africa affected more than 14 million people.

“Extreme weather is clearly causing incredible suffering in all corners of the world”.

Environmental Damage:

Several events caused considerable damage to ecosystems and livelihoods.

Cyclone Chido devastated islands in Mayotte and may have killed more than a thousand people.

A terrible drought in Columbia saw the Amazon River drop by 90%, threatening the livelihoods of indigenous people.

The report mentions landslides, flash flooding and damage to agricultural land.

The report notes that “extreme weather killed thousands across the world and brought massive damage to our cities and natural ecosystems”.

The report emphasizes that climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. It also highlights the need for urgent action to reduce carbon emissions and for wealthier countries to provide funding to help poorer nations adapt to these impacts.

The 2024 climate disasters incurred substantial financial costs, with the ten most expensive events each causing more than $4 billion in damage. These costs are primarily based on insured losses, suggesting the true financial impact could be even greater.

Here are some specific financial costs:

Hurricane Milton, which struck the US in October, was the single biggest financial loss event, costing $60 billion.

Storm Boris in central Europe, combined with floods in Spain and Germany, caused a total loss of $13.87 billion.

Hurricane Helene, which struck the US, Cuba and Mexico, caused around $55 billion in damage.

Other storms and events throughout the year, when hurricanes were removed from the calculation, caused losses of more than $60 billion.

A flood in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, cost $5 billion.

The report indicates that while these are significant financial losses, they do not reflect the full extent of the damage, particularly in poorer countries where many people do not have insurance. The financial impact of these events is not just about the immediate costs, but also includes the long-term economic effects of the damage. The report also notes the cost of climate change will continue to increase unless action is taken.

The sources do not explicitly list the ten countries worst affected by climate disasters in 2024, but they do provide information about countries that experienced significant impacts.

Here are some of the countries that were severely affected by climate disasters in 2024, based on the information in the sources:

United States: Hurricane Milton caused $60 billion in damage, making it the single biggest financial loss event. The US was also affected by Hurricane Helene, which caused around $55 billion in damages.

Cuba: Hurricane Helene also struck Cuba causing damage.

Mexico: Mexico also experienced the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Germany: Germany experienced significant flooding as part of Storm Boris in central Europe.

Spain: Spain was also affected by Storm Boris.

Brazil: A flood in the state of Rio Grande do Sul caused $5 billion in damages and killed 183 people.

Philippines: Typhoon Yagi made landfall in the Philippines before moving on to other countries.

China: China experienced significant flooding in 2024, which killed 315 people.

Bangladesh: Heatwaves affected 33 million people in Bangladesh.

Nigeria: Experienced severe flooding.

Chad: Experienced severe flooding.

Niger: Experienced severe flooding.

Southern African countries: Drought in this region affected more than 14 million people in Zambia, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Colombia: A drought in Columbia caused the Amazon River to drop by 90%.

Mayotte: Cyclone Chido devastated islands in Mayotte.

The report also indicates that many disasters occurred in poorer countries where people often lack insurance and where data is less available. The report focuses on financial losses, which are usually higher in richer countries, however, some of the most devastating extreme weather events occurred in poorer nations, who are less able to cope.

The main argument of Christian Aid’s report is that climate change is causing increasingly severe and frequent extreme weather events that result in substantial financial costs, widespread human suffering, and significant environmental damage. The report highlights that these disasters are not natural, but are largely due to human actions, specifically the continued use of fossil fuels, and a failure to transition to renewable energy sources.

Christian Aid’s response to the climate crisis in 2024, as detailed in the provided sources, is primarily focused on highlighting the severity and urgency of the crisis and advocating for immediate action. The organisation does this through a report, “Counting the Cost 2024: A year of climate breakdown,” which aims to expose the devastating impacts of climate change and urge global leaders to address its root causes.