DISASTERS THEIR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Natural disasters such as floods, fires and droughts have always been part of our planet’s history. In recent decades, however, their frequency and intensity have increased, with direct and indirect consequences for societies and economies. Human-induced climate change is leading to an increase in the number of extreme weather events, and their effects are having a huge impact on various sectors of the economy. In this article, we will discuss selected natural disasters, such as floods in Poland and fires in Greece, their impact on national economies and the decline in agricultural productivity caused by droughts. We will also analyze how climate change affects economic sectors such as tourism, fishing and forestry, which are particularly dependent on the climate.
- Floods in Poland: huge material losses
Floods are one of the most common meteorological phenomena in Poland. Over the past few decades, the country has experienced several major flood disasters with huge material and human losses. The largest of these took place in 1997, when, as a result of the so-called “Millennium” floods, the Vistula and Oder rivers overtopped their banks, inundating large areas in central and southern Poland. At that time, material losses were estimated at about 12 billion zlotys, and the sheer number of victims was 56. Homes, infrastructure and industrial facilities were destroyed. The losses also had a long-term impact on local economies, and it took many years to rebuild the damaged areas.
Other floods in Poland, although smaller, also had significant consequences. For example, the 2010 flood that affected Lower Silesia, Lesser Poland and other regions of southern Poland caused losses of about 4 billion zlotys. In addition, agricultural crops were destroyed as a result of the flooding, which affected crop yields in many areas of the country.
These floods are a growing phenomenon in Poland, due to a warming climate and an increase in the frequency of intense rainfall. Changes in the distribution of precipitation and the intensity of atmospheric phenomena are making floods more common, generating huge material losses that are difficult to estimate fully.
- Fires in Greece: devastation from extreme heat waves
Greece, on the other hand, which has been struggling with intensifying heat waves in recent years, has experienced a series of catastrophic fires that have had serious environmental as well as economic consequences. One of the most tragic fires broke out in 2007, when flames burned hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest, including in the Peloponnese and around Athens. The fire killed 70 people, and property damage was estimated at around €2 billion.
In 2009, Greece again faced major fires that destroyed tourist areas, including popular islands where tourism is a major source of income. Extreme heat and changes in precipitation patterns, which lead to prolonged periods of drought, favor the occurrence and spread of fires. The cost of such disasters is enormous – not only due to the damage to infrastructure and buildings, but also to the loss of the tourism sector, which is a key component of the economy in Greece.
- Decline in agricultural productivity due to droughts
One of the most noticeable effects of climate change is the decline in agricultural productivity. Phenomena such as droughts, which have become increasingly frequent in recent years, have a direct impact on crop yields. In Poland, agriculture is suffering from increasingly prolonged periods without rain, leading to a decrease in the quality and quantity of crops.
In 2018, as a result of the exceptional drought, Poland recorded agricultural losses of about PLN 2.5 billion. The drought primarily affected grain, corn and vegetable crops, leading to a decrease in yields and an increase in food prices. The phenomenon has also affected other European countries, such as Spain and Italy, where reduced rainfall has caused serious problems in agricultural production.
Droughts are becoming increasingly predictable in the context of a changing climate, and their impact on agriculture is very negative. In the long term, reduced agricultural productivity can lead to food supply problems and price increases.
Impact of climate change on climate-dependent sectors
- Climate phenomena also affect other economic sectors that depend heavily on weather and natural conditions. Among the most vulnerable are tourism, fishing and forestry.
- Tourism – Climate is a key factor in the tourism industry. In the event of extreme heat or severe storms, popular tourist destinations may become less attractive. Climate change has affected summer tourism in southern European countries, where excessively hot summers deter tourists, and unpredictable weather events such as fires or floods can damage tourism infrastructure.
- Fisheries – Changes in ocean temperatures are affecting fish migration, and reducing available marine resources. In some parts of the world, including the Mediterranean Sea, rising water temperatures are leading to a decrease in the number of fish species, negatively affecting the fishing industry. In Poland, fishermen are facing increasing water quality problems in the Baltic, limiting their fishing opportunities.
- Forestry – Extreme temperature changes, fires and storms have a devastating impact on forests. In Poland, forests have been devastated by fires and intense winds over the past several years. Reduction of forest area, destruction of forest stands, and reduction of timber quality are serious consequences for the forestry sector.
Natural disaster phenomena, such as floods, fires and droughts, have a huge impact on national and local economies. Poland and Greece are just two examples of countries that have experienced heavy losses from disasters, and their consequences are felt not only in material terms, but also socially and economically. Climate change will lead to an increase in these phenomena in the future, making it necessary to take measures to adapt and prevent the negative effects of extreme weather.
In turn, sectors such as agriculture, tourism, fishing and forestry, which depend heavily on the climate, will have to adapt
Performance: Zuzanna Gajewska, Izabela Barlak, Wiktoria Neiman
