UN is misusing data and its approach has been repeatedly shown to be wrong
Waves crash against the New Canal Lighthouse on Lake Pontchartrain as the effects of Hurricane Ida begin to be felt in New Orleans, Louisiana, US, in this August 29 2021 file photo. Picture: USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS/MICHAEL DEMOCKER
The problem is that the documentation of all types of disasters in the 1970s was far patchier than it is today, when anyone with a cellphone can immediately share news of a storm or flood from halfway around the world. That’s why the disaster database’s own experts explicitlyamateurs not to conclude that an increase in registered disasters equates to more disasters in reality. Reaching such a conclusion “would be incorrect” because the increase really just shows improvements in recording.
So how do we robustly measure whether weather disasters have really become worse? The best approach is not to count the catastrophes, but to look instead at deaths. Major losses of life have been registered pretty consistently over the past century. Remember, Covid-19 killed more people just in 2020 than all the world’s other catastrophes in the past half century. Lumping these in with deaths from hurricanes and floods inappropriately seems designed to create headlines rather than understanding, especially when the agency is using the findings to argue for an acceleration of climate action.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
JAMIE CARR: Steaks are still high for Famous BrandsIts results show a marked rebound from the rigours of the previous year.
Read more »
Amarula Crème Brûlée - Add a South African flavour to a delicate dessertAmarula Crème Brûlée - Add a South African flavour to a delicate dessert Show off your culinary skills with this easy step-by-step recipe.
Read more »
Nascimento couple lives it up in BrazilRoyal AM defender Ricardo Nascimento and his partner have jetted off to Brazil for an off-season vacation. 🤩🔥 Check it out! ➡️
Read more »
End of an era: Thomas Msengana & Skhumba Hlope allegedly axed from morning showThomas Msengana and Skhumba Hlope's future at Kaya FM is hanging by a thread. The veteran radio host and the famous comedian were reportedly laid off from the breakfast show. Read more 👇 ThomasAndSkhumba
Read more »
Living the divorce with Somizi: Season 5 of his show opens him up in new waysSeason five of 'Living the Dream with Somizi' gives us an in-depth view into his divorce with Mohale Motaung, writes Amo Ramela.
Read more »
Report: Liverpool Reach Agreement For €100million SigningBig reports coming out of Europe claim that Liverpool have beaten off competition from Manchester United to sign one of Europe's most wanted strikers.
Read more »