Floods, droughts, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and, in addition, a pandemic … What is happening to the planet and is it worth fearing that a serious threat looms over our civilization? Fresh data from UN experts.
Over the past 50 years, the number of natural disasters on the planet has increased five times, say UN experts*. On average, there is one cataclysm per day in the world, which claims the lives of 115 people. These statistics were provided by the World Meteorological Association (WMO). And every year there will be more and more natural disasters, experts warn.
The number of floods, forest fires, droughts, typhoons, hurricanes and other extreme events is on the rise and causes serious damage to people and nature. Sometimes it seems that post-apocalyptic films, in which nature gradually captures deserted cities, are really our future.
Has the planet “gone crazy” or, as esotericists say, “takes revenge” on humanity for what we have done to it? Rather, the boomerang law simply worked – we met with the consequences of technological progress, which negatively affects the climate. But that is not all.
Catastrophes and natural disasters are interconnected, one can provoke another. In fact, this is the “domino principle”, when one event starts a “chain reaction”. And this is most clearly shown by the events of 2020-2021, when humanity faced a hitherto unfamiliar threat.
The COVID-19 pandemic — the “biological shock of the century,” as experts put it — has been a tangible blow to all of humanity. Many countries have had to deal with the new virus amid natural disasters, from typhoons and cyclones to droughts, earthquakes and locust infestations. Natural disasters complicated the fight against the pandemic, and anti-COVID measures made it difficult to deal with the consequences of the elements.
At the same time, the virus itself mutates, and, as scientists say, will remain with us for a long time. The number of natural disasters, as climate scientists predict, will only increase.
How will all this affect our country?
Scientists report that the main danger for Russians will be floods in some regions and droughts in others. This, in turn, can lead to disruptions in the production and delivery of food. It is also possible to spread other viral diseases, such as tick-borne encephalitis.**.
Looks like it’s worth getting ready for some serious testing. And think about how to prevent even worse consequences. “If we don’t act now, this century could be the last for humanity,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
* https://news.un.org/ru/story/2021/09/1409102
** https://news.un.org/ru/story/2021/08/1408862