|
|
- Permanent Link:
- http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/FI13022720/00001
Notes
- Summary:
- This document examines trends in global mortality and mortality rates associated with extreme weather events for the 111-year period between 1900 and 2010. It puts these deaths and death rates into perspective by comparing them with the total mortality burden tied to other causes, briefly discussing what these trends imply about human adaptive capacity. Greenhouse gas emissions, and the accompanying global warming, have exacerbated the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events, magnifying the resulting death toll and economic losses. This has attracted considerable media attention. The document reports that aggregate mortality attributed to all extreme weather events globally has declined by more than 90% since the 1920s, in spite of a fourfold rise in population and claims that the number and intensity of extreme weather events has increased. According to the authors, the most dangerous decade was 1920 to 1929, when 241 deaths per million people occurred throughout the world annually. This number declined to 208 in the 1930s, reaching an astounding low of 5.4 deaths per million a year between 2000 and 2010. It is reported that deaths and death rates from droughts were responsible for the majority (58%) of all deaths related to extreme weather events from 1900–2010. These numbers also peaked in the 1920s. Since then, these figures have declined by 99.98% and 99.99%, respectively. Similarly, floods were responsible for another 34% of aggregate deaths. These death and death rates have declined by 98.7%–99.6% since the 1930s. Storms were responsible for 7% of deaths from 1900–2010, with deaths and death rates declining by 55.8%–75.3% since the 1970s. The document claims that the major factor contributing to the decline in the death toll from droughts, in particular, is that global food production has never been higher than it is today. This is due largely to improved seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation and farm machinery using fossil fuels. The second important factor stated is better disaster preparedness and more rapid response and delivery of humanitarian aid when disaster strikes, which also requires fossil fuels. The document concludes that over the long term, despite population increases, cumulative mortality from extreme weather events has declined globally because of greater wealth and better technology, enabled in part by use of hydrocarbon fuels. Imposing additional restrictions on the use of hydrocarbon fuels may slow the rate of technological improvement, weakening adaptive capacity, thereby worsening the negative impacts of climate change. ( English )
- Subject:
- Disaster Risk Management ( English )
- Scope and Content:
- Introduction p. 1; Global Trends in Mortality and Mortality Rates p. 3; A. Data Sources p. 3; B. Aggregate Trends p. 6; C. Annual Deaths and Death Rates for 1900–1989 vs. 1990–2010 p. 9; Mortality from Extreme Weather Events in Perspective p. 12; Summary and Conclusions: Wealthier is Safer p. 15; About the Authors p. 19; Acknowledgements p. 20; Endnotes p. 21 ( English )
- Citation/Reference:
- Goklany, I.M., Morris, J. (2011). Wealth and safety: the amazing decline in deaths from extreme weather in an era of global warming, 1900–2010. Reason Foundation.
- General Note:
- Title from PDF cover (viewed on Oct. 7, 2011).
- General Note:
- "September 2011."
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Florida International University
- Rights Management:
- Copyright © 2011 Reason Foundation. All rights reserved.
- Resource Identifier:
- FI13022720
757859313 ( oclc )
|
|
