235
physical events, mainly tsunamis and earthquakes, 91% of all disasters were due to
heat waves, storms, floods, droughts, and other events related to weather (CRED
and UNISDR 2018).
Average number of climate-related events per year nearly doubled to 329 in the
year from 1998 to 2017 compared to 165 events per annum between 1978 and 1997.
In 1998–2017, storms, accounted 233,000 deaths that is second only to earthquakes
which accounted 747,234 deaths (CRED and UNISDR 2018). Climate-related
disasters accounted for 91% of all 7255 recorded disasters from 1998 to 2017 out of
which floods accounted 43% of all recorded events (CRED and UNISDR 2018).
Flood that is a major disaster due to climate change can affect life and health of
people as depicted in Fig. 6.10. Drowning is a serious health threat resulting in
death of 372,000 people per annum globally with more than 90% of loss of life due
to drowning occurring in low- as well as middle-income nations (WHO 2014a).
Draught that is another major disaster due to climate change can affect life and
health of people as depicted in Fig. 6.11.
In 2003, severe heat wave from June to mid-August increased summer temperature by 20–30% in a large portion of Europe. The maximum temperatures varied
from 35 to 40 °C in many of the southern and central European countries resulting
in more than 30,000 deaths. The extreme heat also resulted in more than 25,000 fires
destroying 64,7069 ha of forest land 44,123 ha of agricultural land, 8973 ha of
unoccupied places, besides 1700 ha of inhabited areas (UNEP 2003).
Stagnation of
water
•Increase in
mosquito
abundance due
to stagnation
of water
•Loss of crop
resulting in
Reduction in
food supply
River stream
overtops bank
•Pollution of
surface water
Damage to
property
•Loss of habitat
•Mental stress
Drowning
•Death
Damage to
trees/structure
•Injury
Fig. 6.10 Impact of health due to flood
Stagnation of water
• Increase in mosquito
abundance in dried
rivers resulting from
stagnation of water
Heat wave
• Heat edema, rashes,
cramps, exhaustion,
syncope, stroke
Water shortage
• Loss of crop resulting
in reduction in food
supply
• Disease associated
with hygiene due to
lack of water
Fig. 6.11 Impacts due to draught
6.4 Impact of Climate Change on Health
physical events, mainly tsunamis and earthquakes, 91% of all disasters were due to
heat waves, storms, floods, droughts, and other events related to weather (CRED
and UNISDR 2018).
Average number of climate-related events per year nearly doubled to 329 in the
year from 1998 to 2017 compared to 165 events per annum between 1978 and 1997.
In 1998–2017, storms, accounted 233,000 deaths that is second only to earthquakes
which accounted 747,234 deaths (CRED and UNISDR 2018). Climate-related
disasters accounted for 91% of all 7255 recorded disasters from 1998 to 2017 out of
which floods accounted 43% of all recorded events (CRED and UNISDR 2018).
Flood that is a major disaster due to climate change can affect life and health of
people as depicted in Fig. 6.10. Drowning is a serious health threat resulting in
death of 372,000 people per annum globally with more than 90% of loss of life due
to drowning occurring in low- as well as middle-income nations (WHO 2014a).
Draught that is another major disaster due to climate change can affect life and
health of people as depicted in Fig. 6.11.
In 2003, severe heat wave from June to mid-August increased summer temperature by 20–30% in a large portion of Europe. The maximum temperatures varied
from 35 to 40 °C in many of the southern and central European countries resulting
in more than 30,000 deaths. The extreme heat also resulted in more than 25,000 fires
destroying 64,7069 ha of forest land 44,123 ha of agricultural land, 8973 ha of
unoccupied places, besides 1700 ha of inhabited areas (UNEP 2003).
Stagnation of
water
•Increase in
mosquito
abundance due
to stagnation
of water
•Loss of crop
resulting in
Reduction in
food supply
River stream
overtops bank
•Pollution of
surface water
Damage to
property
•Loss of habitat
•Mental stress
Drowning
•Death
Damage to
trees/structure
•Injury
Fig. 6.10 Impact of health due to flood
Stagnation of water
• Increase in mosquito
abundance in dried
rivers resulting from
stagnation of water
Heat wave
• Heat edema, rashes,
cramps, exhaustion,
syncope, stroke
Water shortage
• Loss of crop resulting
in reduction in food
supply
• Disease associated
with hygiene due to
lack of water
Fig. 6.11 Impacts due to draught
6.4 Impact of Climate Change on Health