Maps of Risk Show USA and China to Top Global Ranking for Economic Loss Due to Natural Disasters Linked to Climate Change - Maplecroft's New Interactive Maps of Natural Disasters Highlight Hotspots as Well as Opportunities for Disaster Mitigation and Business Continuity
LONDON--In 2008 natural disasters cost the world US$200 billion. Global maps, produced by risk specialists Maplecroft, show the United States and China to bear about 90% of this burden and be the countries most susceptible to economic losses.
Whilst the human impact of natural disasters is predominantly concentrated in developing countries, with 90% of deaths occurring in these regions, the increase in both frequency and severity of climate related disasters is increasingly impacting upon developed and emerging economies including China.
So far this century, more than 800,000 people have been killed by natural disasters, more than 2 billion have been affected, and damage costs total over US$800 billion. Whilst disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes can not be prevented, we can reduce the risk they pose to business and society by reducing our vulnerability. We can do this by mapping and assessing the risk, being better prepared and responding more effectively when potentially disastrous natural events occur. Critical to this task is the availability of systematic knowledge and analysis.
Maplecroft has produced a new series of global maps of natural disaster risk for 2009. The maps and indices cover 208 countries and support efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and natural disasters on communities and economic activity. Four sets of maps explore:
1) All natural disasters
2) Hydro-meteorological disasters
3) Geophysical disasters
4) Economic losses due to natural disasters
Each map uses a unique index to measure disaster risk in each country. The maps are supported with background explanation and comprehensive analysis as well as discussion of how business can engage in natural disaster preparedness and response, supported by case studies of business engagement including in China and the United States.
In terms of GDP, small island developing states are most at risk, including Montserrat, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Bermuda and St Lucia. The Maplecroft maps show several countries of high geopolitical and business interest to be ranked in the top ten most at risk of climate change related disasters, including Bangladesh, Sudan, Mozambique, Haiti, Djibouti and the Philippines.
Maplecroft is the definitive and only source of quantitative and comprehensive "extra-financial" and global risks indices, maps and data. This includes human rights, political risk, government risk, climate change, resource security, health and other areas of macroeconomic and societal risk. We are trusted advisors to some of the world's leading companies. We work with blue chip clients and leading brands across all sectors to support their work on risk, responsibility and reputation.
