Bangladesh incurs approximately $3 billion in annual disaster losses due to extreme weather conditions, affecting over 6.3 million people each year, according to the “Climate Risk Index 2025” report by Germanwatch. Countries in the Global South are particularly vulnerable to these events. The report also stresses the need for increased climate finance and action to mitigate future risks as global instability grows.
Bangladesh suffers annual disaster losses of nearly $3 billion due to extreme weather conditions including floods, droughts, storms, and heatwaves. These disasters affect over 6.3 million people each year, as reported by Germanwatch in its “Climate Risk Index 2025” published on February 13. The report emphasizes that countries in the Global South, particularly over the last 30 years, are increasingly vulnerable to such events.
Between 1993 and 2022, approximately 9,400 extreme weather events globally resulted in almost 800,000 deaths and economic losses totaling $4.2 trillion. In this context, Bangladesh is ranked 31st among the countries most affected by natural disasters. The Climate Risk Index ranks countries based on the economic and human impact of extreme weather, including the number of fatalities, injuries, and displaced individuals.
The report noted an extreme heatwave from March to May 2022 that reached a record temperature of 49.5°C in Nawabshah, Pakistan, which triggered significant floods following the intense heat. This heatwave and its aftermath led to over 90 deaths across Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, with climate change making this event 30 times more probable.
Despite facing high climate vulnerability, Bangladesh’s initiatives in climate adaptation and disaster risk management have significantly reduced disaster-related fatalities. For instance, cyclone fatalities declined dramatically from 500,000 in the major cyclone of 1970 to just 4,234 in 2007, illustrating the effectiveness of the country’s disaster preparedness strategies.
The report also indicates that while China, India, and the Philippines experience frequent extreme weather events, countries like Dominica and Honduras face unprecedented disasters. Notably, Italy, Spain, and Greece rank among the top ten most affected nations in the last three decades.
Germanwatch officials call for urgent action regarding climate finance at the upcoming Brazil Climate Summit. Laura Schaefer warns that the climate crisis represents an emerging global security risk that demands multilateral efforts, acknowledging that the Global South is disproportionately affected. David Eckstein highlights that the financial losses over thirty years are equivalent to Germany’s entire GDP, pressing the need for immediate climate action.
Lina Adil emphasizes the dire situation of vulnerable countries suffering from inadequate resources and calls for enhanced mitigation strategies to achieve the 1.5°C limit on global warming. The Climate Risk Index also demonstrates that certain extreme weather events can cause damages surpassing a nation’s GDP. Vera Kuenzel stresses the need for improved climate risk management to protect the most vulnerable populations from significant losses.
In summary, Bangladesh faces severe economic losses and widespread human impact from extreme weather events, amounting to nearly $3 billion annually. The situation exposes the vulnerability of Global South nations, as they confront increasing climate-related challenges. Despite notable improvements in disaster preparedness, urgent calls for enhanced climate finance and strategic action are essential to safeguard populations against future risks. The upcoming Brazil Climate Summit represents a critical opportunity to address these pressing issues.
Original Source: www.tbsnews.net
