聯合國氣候變遷會議6日公佈，2005年因氣候引起之天然災害已造成最慘重的財政損失。據世界知名的慕尼黑再保險基金會（Munich Re Foundation）初步估算，2005年全球經濟損失將超過2,000億美元，保險損失同樣將達700億美元以上。
跟之前損失最慘重的2004年相比，當時的損失總計約1450億美元，保險損失約450億美元。
慕尼黑再保險基金會首席主管同時也是聯合國環境規劃署（UNEP）財務顧問的一員羅伯斯特（Thomas Loster）指出：「由此數據呈現出的強力跡象，以及氣候變遷帶來的潛在衝擊預測顯示，證實了氣候變遷正如火如荼地進行中，我們勢必要對此展開行動。」他接著說：「最重要的是，這些人類悲劇警示我們，氣候的衝擊結果正使得所有民眾和社會面對與天氣有關的自然災難顯得更形脆弱不堪。」
慕尼黑再保險基金會於今年成立，該會宗旨在協助民眾降低各種形式的災害風險，進行中的計畫包括推動「微額保險」（micro-insurance），讓較貧窮國家有能力負擔氣候變遷等因素引致的災害相關損失。
身為一名氣候專家，羅伯斯特指出一突出的趨勢：氣候災害與經濟損失的相關性極高，遠高於較1950 年到2004年與地震災害與的經濟損失的相關性。
他進一步指出：「我們並非低估地震所造成的人類悲劇，畢竟一年有數萬人死於震災，像最近的巴基斯坦強震一樣。但我們也發現，與氣候相關的災害死傷人數正逐漸上揚。」
保險業專家也指出，今年一連串研究，包含《自然》期刊中的報告，已提出愈來愈多的科學證據，顯示自1970年代以來，大西洋和太平洋上的大型熱帶風暴，無論是持續時間和暴風強度，都顯著提高約50%。
而今年則是災害紀錄破紀錄的一年。像印度孟買在7月26日一天之內降下944公釐，創下歷年來最高的單日降雨量。歐陸首見的颶風文斯（Vince）在今年10月登陸西班牙，同時也是前所未見發生在最東方、也是最北方的颶風。
另外10月在加勒比海形成的颶風威瑪（Wilma）也是極其強大的，使得墨西哥的考祖梅（Cozumel）和猶加敦（Yucatan）形同廢墟。據統計財物損失高達150億美元，而保險損失則為100億美元。自有記錄以來第六強的颶風Katrina造成有史以來最嚴重的與氣候相關的災害，財物損失總計超過1,250億美元及300億的保險損失。
聯合國環境規劃署署長托佛（Klaus Toepfer）在第11屆氣候變化綱要公約締約國會議（COP11）上指出：「我們此刻身在蒙特婁開COP11會議，極其重要的是，在會議結束之前，各國政府將會發布一項訊息給工商業界及所有的世界公民，昭示我們持續努力遏制全球暖化的決心。」
科學家評估，溫室氣體的排放必須減少60%或甚至更多，才足以穩定大氣層。
The largest financial losses ever due to weather-related natural disasters occurred in 2005, the United Nations climate change conference was told Tuesday. Preliminary estimates presented by the Munich Re Foundation, part of one of the world’s top re-insurance companies, put the economic losses at more than US$200 billion with insured losses running at more than US$70 billion.
This compares with 2004, the previous most costly year, when economic losses totalled around US$145 billion and the insured losses reached about US$45 billion.
"There is a powerful indication from these figures that we are moving from predictions of the likely impacts of climate change to proof that it is already fully underway," said Thomas Loster, chief executive of the Munich Re Foundation and a member of the Finance Initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). "Above all, these are humanitarian tragedies and show us that, as a result of our impacts on the climate, we are making people and communities everywhere more vulnerable to weather-related natural disasters," he said.
The Munich Re Foundation was set up this year to help people minimize the risks of disasters in all forms. Initiatives include promoting micro-insurance so that poorer parts of the world can afford cover against disaster-related losses, including those from climate change.
Loster, a climate expert, said that economic losses related to atmospheric disasters showed a far stronger trend than those related to earthquakes for the years 1950 to 2004.
"We do not want to underestimate the human tragedy of earthquakes like the recent one in Pakistan which can kill tens of thousands of people a year. But our findings indicate that it is the toll of weather-related disasters that are the ones on the rise," he said.
Insurance industry experts point to growing scientific evidence, including studies, reported in the journal "Nature" this year, that indicate that major tropical storms in the Atlantic and Pacific have increased in duration and intensity by about 50 percent since the 1970s.
The year was also marked by recordbreaking events. The highest ever rainfall in India was recorded in Mumbai on July 26 when 944 millimeters of rain in 24 hours poured down upon the city. The first ever hurricane to approach Europe happened in October when Hurricane Vince made landfall in Spain. It was also the most eastern and northern hurricane ever seen.
Hurricane Wilma, which formed in the Caribbean in October, was the strongest hurricane ever, causing devastation in Mexico's Cozumel and Yucatan. Economic losses have been calculated at US$15 billion with insured losses of US$10 billion. Hurricane Katrina, the sixth strongest since records began, has been the most costly weather-related disaster ever, with economic losses totalling more than US$125 billion and most likely more than US$30 billion insured losses.
"We are here in Montreal for the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Climate Change Convention," said UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer. "It is vital that, before this meeting ends, Governments send a clear signal to business, industry and the people of the world that they are determined to continue the battle to curb global warming."
Scientists estimate that greenhouse gases must be reduced by 60 percent or more in order to stabilize the atmosphere.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
