Title: Explainer: are natural disasters on the rise?
Headings: Explainer: are natural disasters on the rise?
Explainer: are natural disasters on the rise?
Natural disasters are not so ‘natural’
Disasters don’t need to happen
Who or what can we blame?
The poor are hardest hit by disasters
Humans are responsible

Content: For example, the movement of Earth’s crustal plates triggers earthquakes and tsunamis. Variation in solar radiation entering the atmosphere and oceans triggers storms in the summertime and blizzards in winter. The movement of energy in Earth’s system is what drives these natural processes. Despite these normal processes, experts now say there is no such thing as “natural disasters”, for three reasons. First, humanity is interfering with the Earth system. For example, as we drive anthropogenic climate change we are adding more energy to the system. This increases the probability of more frequent and intense “hydro-meteorological” hazards such as floods, bushfires, heatwaves and tropical cyclones. Second, we are (mis)managing natural systems. For example, removing the buffering protection of mangroves on the coast means a storm surge can be more disastrous. Third, our settlements are sprawling out across the Earth’s surface into geographic areas where natural hazards occur.