Indicative estimates of damage and recovery costs from extreme weather-related events
Project: Indicative estimates of damage and recovery costs from extreme weather-related events
Client: South African National Biodiversity and Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, Government of South Africa
Location: South Africa
Timeframe: October 2009 – January 2010
Description: Led by James Cumming, OneWorld—through its knowledge of climate change and its impacts—conducted a study into what damage and recovery from climate related disasters or extreme weather-related events cost South Africa over the decade 2000-2009. The report was to be included in South Africa’s Second National Communication (SNC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Albeit rough and only indicative due to sever data limitations, a conservative estimate for total cost for the period 2000 – 2009, one arrives at an amount of ZAR9169.42mil (in 2008 currency). This would equate to ZAR1018.8mil per annum if averaged over the period and using this annual figure, it equates to 0.04% of current GDP or ZAR21 per capita. It is safe to assume that this is a drastic underestimation as disasters are poorly reported and recorded, and biased infrastructurally, not taking indirect socio-economic costs as well as non-market costs into account. More than simply arriving at this figure the report elaborated more broadly on the effects of such events and how the analysis might inform the planning and investment necessary to adapt to a changing climate.
