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- Permanent Link:
- http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/FI13042537/00001
Notes
- Summary:
- This document includes a survey of the disaster risks being created as a result of China’s rapid development, an overview of the major disasters of 2009, and an assessment of the Copenhagen Climate Summit. China, while the world’s fastest growing economy, is also subject to a variety of disaster risks. Much of the development occurring in and around the country’s metropolitan centers is highly exposed to hazard, particularly flooding, as these growing urban center are often located on former river deltas or along the banks of major river systems. The earthquake risks facing the country are even more problematic. Four of the ten most devastating earthquakes in recorded human history have occurred in eastern China, a region characterized by high population density and rapid development. Also, the country faces an average of seven typhoons yearly between the months of June and November. Despite these vulnerabilities, only 1-2% of its catastrophic losses are insured. Without developing the proper insurance mechanisms in conjunction with the appropriate disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) efforts, China’s economic growth and development will likely be stunted. The lack of public awareness regarding the risks to which China’s development is exposed to has meant that demand for insurance remains relatively weak. In the following section, the document outlines the impact of winter storm Klaus that struck northern Spain, southern France, and parts of the Mediterranean. The storm revealed problems with insurance coverage classification in both Spain and France. The failure to properly gauge potential losses resulted in problematic adjustments to post-disaster payments. The third section discusses Australia’s wildfires and the heavy demands they have placed on the country’s insurance industry, which are expected to increase as a result of continued climate change. The report recommends that insurance coverage in Australia be refined and expanded to meet these projected needs. The fourth section focuses on Indonesia’s magnitude 7.6 earthquake and related tremor. The disaster exposed the need for improved evacuation procedures, as thousands of residents were unable to leave affected areas due to traffic congestion. Landslides and mudslides contributed to the earthquake’s effects, resulting in approximately 1200 deaths for the entire catastrophe. In the final section of the document, the proceedings of the Copenhagen Climate Summit are presented. Unfortunately, the summit was deemed unproductive. Agreements were not legally binding, and no country bares any obligation within its provisions. The report attributes the summit’s lackluster results to multiple factors, most notably the United States’ and China’s failure to assume leadership roles, and excessive demands made by developing nations on global assets. ( English )
- Subject:
- General Disaster Risk Management ( English )
- Scope and Content:
- In focus p. 2; China survey – Sleeping giant p. 4; Catastrophe portraits p. 10; January: Winter Storm Klaus p. 12; February: Wildfires in Australia p. 16; September: Earthquake in Indonesia
p. 22; Climate and climate change p. 24; Copenhagen climate summit p. 26; Data, facts, background p. 28; NatCatSERVICE p. 32; The year in figures p. 34; Great natural catastrophes 1950–2009 p. 35; The year in pictures p. 38; Geo news p. 40 ( English )
- Citation/Reference:
- (2009). Topics geo: natural catastrophes 2009—analyses, assessments, positions. Munich RE.
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Florida International University
- Rights Management:
- © 2010. Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft
- Resource Identifier:
- FI13042537
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