The Global Green Graduate

A brief introduction to climate change and natural disasters Some serious consequences of climate change, like sea level rise and loss of biodiversity, are taking place gradually and not immediately felt by the majority of people. The increase in extreme weather events, however, is not one of those slow consequences. Climate change is already causing more frequent and more severe floods, droughts, heat waves, and storms all over the world, affecting over 200 million people annually. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction explains that such disasters disproportionally affect people who are already in vulnerable positions, for example refugees and women and children living in poverty, and are a huge setback to sustainable development. Because of their noticeable and shocking impact, natural disasters are a big topic of discussion in international climate politics. On the picture above, 12 year old Timoci Naulusala is being congratulated by world leaders after speaking at the COP23