The Human Cost of Climate Change: A Call to Action

Amid the chaos of a flooded neighborhood in Wadajir district of Mogadishu, Somalia, a family navigates the turbulent waters that have engulfed their home. This heartbreaking scene symbolizes a much larger crisis—a crisis that has resulted in severe consequences for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Recent findings from The Independent reveal that extreme weather, driven by the climate crisis, has cost impoverished nations an alarming $156 billion (£116 billion) over the past two decades. The statistics tell a grim story: intense droughts, destructive floods, and merciless cyclones have claimed the lives of over 42,000 people since 2000, with approximately 17,000 of those deaths directly linked to climate change. Somalia, Haiti, and Uganda are among the hardest-hit nations, bearing the brunt of an escalating crisis.

According to researchers at ODI Global, an esteemed international think tank, these findings should act as an urgent wake-up call for global policymakers. “If the UK suffered tens of billions in damages caused by the actions of other countries,” reflects Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth, “our government and the public would rightfully be shouting from the rooftops about this injustice.” Indeed, many nations currently on the front lines of climate degradation contribute virtually nothing to global emissions.

Amidst rising nationalistic sentiments and budget cuts, the implications are dire. Former President Trump’s reductions in aid spending and the UK’s considerable planned cuts in foreign assistance are weakening the support network for countries most affected by climate crises. “It’s deeply unjust,” argues Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, “that those who have done the least to contribute to this crisis are paying the steeper price.” As policymakers in wealthier nations hesitate, people in countries like Somalia and Ethiopia continue to pay the human cost.

What does this all mean for the people living in these affected regions? The statistics are staggering. Since 2000, low-income countries have endured losses totaling $395 billion from extreme weather—of which $156 billion is due to climate change. Emily Wilkinson, a principal research fellow at ODI Global, states it poignantly: “Every year, we see more devastation from the worsening effects of climate change.” The call for climate finance is growing louder, and it is essential that the funds reach those who desperately need them, even in unstable or conflict-ridden regions.

The recent establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at the 2023 Cop28 climate summit was a tentative step forward. However, with only $768 million pledged from wealthier nations—merely a fraction of the financial losses these vulnerable countries face—some might wonder: is this enough? What if we placed human dignity and lives above politics and fiscal constraints?

Interestingly, the research conducted by ODI Global employs climate mapping studies combined with data from EM-DAT, the international database of disasters, to calculate these losses. The results indicate that tropical cyclones and flooding have wreaked havoc in small island developing states like the Bahamas, which has incurred at least $4 billion in climate-related damages.

In the Sahel and Horn of Africa, where agriculture is the lifeblood for many communities, prolonged droughts and subsequent floods have been catastrophic. The ODI report estimates that these phenomena have caused at least $11.5 billion in losses to livestock and crops. Somalia stands out as the nation most severely affected, with a staggering $151 billion in losses, driven by climate change-related events.

Additionally, in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, the economic toll of climate disasters has reached tens of billions. These figures are not mere statistics; they represent lives disrupted. Nearly half of Somalia’s eight million people face food insecurity, exacerbated by both prolonged drought and recent flooding. The fear lingers that ongoing cuts to humanitarian aid will cripple relief efforts at a time when lives hang in the balance.

Consider the Caribbean islands. In Dominica, climate-related damage has cost nearly 9.25% of its GDP annually over the last two decades. The ongoing cycle of destruction disproportionately affects smaller economies, intensifying the challenges posed by regional conflicts and generating a compound disaster.

Looking ahead, the situation is dire. ODI’s researchers project at least an additional $235 billion in climate-related damages for vulnerable countries if global temperatures rise by 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. Each of the past ten years has ranked among the warmest on record, prompting the question: what are we waiting for?

The erosion of aid programs only increases the risk of famine and poverty. In 2023, vulnerable nations received merely £7.5 billion in aid from the U.S. and the UK, while millions remain reliant on emergency food assistance. Yet, with cutbacks in aid funding looming, the situation grows more precarious. In Ethiopia, lack of support has already led to malnutrition among 650,000 women and children. What does it take for a compassionate world to prioritize those at the brink of survival?

In the face of these daunting challenges, it is crucial to remember that every action counts. As researchers like Emily Wilkinson remind us, we are not too late to change course. The escalating cost of climate change is a shared burden, and it’s high time to act with a sense of urgency—one that prioritizes those who need it most.