2022 has been a year of some “devastating” climate-related disasters, with countries across the globe suffering from more intense storms, deadlier flooding, and a huge bout of summer droughts.
A new report from Christian Aid has highlighted the top 10 most expensive environmental disasters of the year, including hurricanes in North America, torrential downpours in Asia, and record-breaking heatwaves in the UK. These have caused deaths, displacement, destruction, and widespread environmental damage.
Scientists have said many of the events were driven by rising global temperatures as a result of human activity. They added this highlights the importance of the special fund created at COP27, which will compensate people in poorer countries for the loss and damage they suffered at the hands of the climate crisis.
So here are the 2022 climate disasters which racked up the biggest costs - and the impacts they had on the people and countries hit.
5. East Australia floods ($7.5 billion)
East Australia was also hit by flooding, with a series of floods that occurred from February to April marking one of the country’s worst recorded disasters. Twenty-seven people are known to have died, while thousands others lost their homes. Schools closed, evacuations took place, and food shortages were reported across the regions affected. In terms of longer-lasting effects, ground across South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales has become more saturated - meaning it is now more vulnerable to even small amounts of rain. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) | Getty Images
6. Pakistan floods ($5.6 billion)
Flooding in Pakistan between June and September had the biggest impact in terms of human costs, tragically causing 1,739 deaths and displacing seven million people. It was the world’s deadliest flood since the 2020 South Asian floods, and was described as the worst in Pakistan’s history. The immediate causes included heavier than usual monsoon rains and melting glaciers that followed a severe heat wave. Scientists established both of these were linked to climate change. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
7. Storm Eunice ($4.3 billion)
Europe was not excluded from climate disasters in 2022. Storm Eunice caused mass devastation in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Poland when it hit in February - costing $4.3 billion. Sixteen deaths were recorded as a result of the storm, and numerous others were injured. The record-breaking winds caused huge structural damage, transport chaos, and widespread power cuts, and many schools and businesses were closed out of concern for safety. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) | Getty Images
8. Brazil drought (4 billion)
2022 was Brazil’s second consecutive year of drought. It means the country has had much smaller harvests of major crops, especially corn, soybeans, and sugar, causing food prices to soar and damaging the standard of living for many Brazilians. The drought is in part due to lower-than-expected rainfall, as well as mass deforestation across the Amazon. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images