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The weather

  • 2005 was the costliest year ever for weather-related disasters, more than $200 billion compared to $145 billion in 2004, the previous record.
  • In 2005, there were a record 26 named storms, of which a record 14 were hurricanes.
  • 2005 saw the appearance of the strongest hurricane on record and the first ever hurricane to emerge that approached Europe.
  • In 2004 Japan was hit by a record 10 tropical cyclones and a hurricane formed in the South Atlantic for the first time ever.

"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." Munich Re Foundation Chief Executive Thomas Loster

The UK

  • Nine of the ten warmest years on record have occurred in the last ten years.
    World Meteorological Organisation
  • Higher summer temperatures have been experienced across the UK. Summer rainfall is down by up to 50% in the South and East of England. Extreme UK high water levels are 10-20 times more probable with sea levels rising by 26 to 86 cm this century.
    UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs