\n<\/p>\n
Torrential floods in Kenya<\/a>\u00a0have killed nearly 200 people and displaced hundreds of thousands This extreme weather whiplash is just one example of the grim toll climate change is taking in some countries. Around the world, more than 3 billion people have been affected by it over the past 20 years \u2014 but those impacts are very unevenly distributed, The global study analyzed the number and location of people injured, made homeless or killed after a hurricane, typhoon or other climate disaster. It found that although some developed and developing countries faced a similar number of events, there were \u201cPeople living in developing countries are suffering far more from the effects of climate change,\u201d said Camila Donatti, the study\u2019s lead author and a Conservation International expert on climate change adaptation. \u201cIt\u2019s not Countries in Central America, the Caribbean, eastern Africa, and southern and eastern Asia experienced the highest levels of human impact from climate-related disasters, according to the study.<\/p>\n Notably, over the 20-year period covered by Donatti\u2019s research, the percentage of Europeans affected by climate disasters decreased, whereas the percentage of Africans impacted by disaster increased \u2014 despite both continents experiencing an \u201cDisasters like floods and wildfires can come almost out of nowhere if you don\u2019t have warning systems in place,\u201d Donatti said. \u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s happening in many developing countries. They don\u2019t know what\u2019s To make matters worse, many of the people affected are dealing with repeat disasters, Donatti said. In 19 of the 172 countries surveyed, many people were impacted year after year within that 20 year period. That was especially true of developing countries, \u201cThe same people are being impacted over and over again, in large part because they don’t have the capacity to move to less vulnerable locations and they don\u2019t have the resources to recover between events,\u201d Donatti said. \u201cIt\u2019s Developing countries also have significantly less support in the direct aftermath of a disaster \u2014 including medical care, food, water and lodging. Long term-recovery efforts, like rebuilding homes, hospitals and other infrastructure, also lag.<\/p>\n \u201cPut together, the lack of resources has a massive impact on death tolls \u2014 both during and after a climate disaster,\u201d Donatti said.<\/p>\n This is unequivocally a climate justice issue, she continued.<\/p>\n \u201cThe people most impacted by climate change are the least responsible<\/a>\u00a0for it,\u201d she said. \u201cYet While there is an urgent need for global action to address this resource gap, nature is a proven ally in helping to reduce the worst impacts of the climate crisis.<\/p>\n In Nepal<\/a>, for example, protecting rainforests has helped prevent mudslides. In Kenya<\/a>, implementing sustainable livestock grazing practices has reduced soil erosion from droughts. And in the Philippines<\/a>\u00a0protecting mangroves and marshes has decreased flooding from storms and sea-level rise.<\/p>\n \u201cWe like to call nature-based solutions \u2018no regret options,\u2019\u201d Donatti said. \u201cThey\u2019re often cheaper, effective and already available.\u201d<\/p>\n Nature-based solutions not only help communities become more resilient to climate disasters, they also improve food security, support economic development and help protect wildlife. This is critical as more than two-thirds<\/a>\u00a0of people who live in the tropics directly depend on nature for basic needs.<\/p>\n For example, in Madagascar devastating droughts, punctuated by intense cyclones, have exacerbated poverty and malnutrition. For years, Conservation International has worked with farmers<\/a>\u00a0to adopt sustainable agriculture practices that are more drought and cyclone tolerant.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s working. A recent report<\/a>\u00a0found that farmers who adopted sustainable \u201cWe have limited time and resources to act,\u201d Donatti said. \u201cWe know where people are struggling the most \u2014 and what actions can help \u2014 it is imperative that we focus our efforts where we can have the greatest impact.\u201d<\/p>\n Further reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n Mary Kate McCoy is a staff writer at Conservation International. Want to read more stories like this? Sign up for email updates<\/a>. Also, please consider supporting our critical work<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n more since March. The deluge comes on the tail of a years-long drought that left millions hungry.<\/p>\n
\n according to a new Conservation International study<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n significant disparities in the impacts of those events.<\/p>\n
\n because they face a greater number of extreme events \u2014 it\u2019s because they have fewer resources to prevent or recover from them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n overall decrease in the number of climate-related disasters. On average, about 45 percent of Africans were affected by climate disasters each year, compared to just 3 percent of Europeans.<\/p>\n
\n coming, which can make it difficult \u2014 if not impossible \u2014 to evacuate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n such as Zimbabwe, Somalia and the Philippines.<\/p>\n
\n like adding fuel to a fire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n there continues to be a huge gap in the resources they are able to access to implement climate adaptation measures.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n agriculture practices, like drought-resistant crops and mulching to prevent soil erosion during heavy rains, were not only less likely to deforest surrounding land to supplement income, they also had greater food security \u2014 an important indicator
\n in a country where about a third of the population does not have enough food.<\/p>\n