UN: economic losses from natural disasters soar

According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, direct economic losses from natural disasters totaled $2.9 trillion, an increase of more than 250% compared to 20 years ago, due to extreme weather that is intensifying as the world warms.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather, and disasters will continue to set back sustainable development.

The United States, China, Japan and India are most-affected countries. According to the report, heat waves will be the biggest problem in the future, and will be much harder to manage than storms and floods. The report urges countries to invest in disaster risk reduction, calling that the most cost-effective way to reduce the growing risks from climate change.