Climate-related risk results from the interaction of hazards with the vulnerability and exposure of human and natural systems. Changes in climate and society drive changes in risk. [WGII AR5 Figure SPM.1]People, societies, and ecosystems around the world are vulnerable and exposed to climate-related extremes, ranging from heat waves, droughts, and floods to cyclones and wildfires. Human influences on the climate system have already led to increases in warm temperature extremes, extreme high sea levels, and heavy precipitation events. In the future, heat waves will very likely occur more often and last longer, and extreme precipitation events will very likely become more intense and frequent in many regions.
Integrating disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, and development provides benefits across scales. A first step towards adaptation to climate change is reducing vulnerability and exposure to present climate variability. Available options can increase resilience across a range of possible futures while helping to improve human health, livelihoods, social and economic well-being, and environmental quality.
Climate-related risk results from the interaction of hazards with the vulnerability and exposure of human and natural systems. Changes in climate and society drive changes in risk. [WGII AR5 Figure SPM.1]
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