Chapter 4: Changes in Impacts of Climate Extremes: Human Systems and Ecosystems
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4.5. Costs of Climate Extremes and Disasters
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4.5.2 Extreme Events, Impacts, and Development
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It should also be noted that in a small country, a disaster can directly affect much of the country and therefore the magnitude of losses and recovery demands can be extremely high relative to GDP and public financial resources (Mechler, 2004). This is particularly the case in the event of multiple and/or consecutive disasters in short periods. For example, in Fiji, consecutive natural disasters have resulted in reduced national GDP as well as decreased socioeconomic development as captured by the Human Development Index (HDI) (Lal, 2010). In Mexico, natural disasters resulted in the HDI regressing by approximately two years and in an increase in poverty levels (Rodriguez-Oreggia et al., 2010). Patt et al. (2010) indicated that vulnerability in the least-developed countries will rise most quickly, which implies an urgent need for international assistance.
Costs and impacts not only vary among developing and developed countries, but also between and within countries, regions, local areas, sectors, systems, and individuals due to the heterogeneity of vulnerability and resilience (see Chapter 2). Some individuals, sectors, and systems would be less affected, or may even benefit, while other individuals, sectors, and systems may suffer significant losses in the same event. In general, the poorest and those who are socially or economically marginalized will be the most at risk in terms of being exposed and vulnerable (Wisner et al., 2004). For example, women and children are found to be more vulnerable to disasters in many countries, with larger disasters having an especially unequal impact (Neumayer and Plümper, 2007).
