Climate change has a significant impact on natural disasters around the world, often leading to more severe and frequent disasters. Rising global temperatures cause melting of polar ice and rising sea levels. Based on the IPCC report, the earth’s surface temperature is expected to increase between 1.5°C and 2°C by the end of this century, worsening the risk of coastal flooding. The decline of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica is contributing to this effect, increasing the frequency of flooding and erosion in coastal areas. Additionally, climate change causes extreme weather. Heavy rains and heat waves are becoming more common, causing flooding and drought in many regions. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), tropical storms are also becoming stronger, having a greater impact on communities living in disaster-prone areas. Changing temperatures and weather patterns influence precipitation patterns, contributing to fresh water scarcity and negative impacts on agriculture, threatening food security. Forests, which serve as carbon sinks, are also affected. Forest fires are becoming more frequent and larger due to high temperatures and dry conditions, as seen in areas of Australia and California. Fires not only destroy ecosystems, but also impact air quality and human health. In the long term, forest loss could exacerbate climate change, forming a negative feedback cycle. Extreme weather changes can also trigger waves of human migration. People living in areas vulnerable to climate change are being forced to leave their homes due to increasing disasters, creating humanitarian crises and challenges for destination countries. Data from UNHCR shows that more than 20 million people are forced to flee each year due to weather-induced disasters. The influence of climate change on natural disasters is also visible in the complexity of risk management. Developing countries, which are most vulnerable to these disasters, often lack the resources to adapt. Effective mitigation strategies, such as building climate-resistant infrastructure and implementing sustainable agriculture, are very important to reduce the impacts. The public health impact cannot be ignored either. Rising temperatures trigger an increase in vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever. In addition, worsening air quality due to forest fires has an impact on respiratory problems and heart disease. Therefore, climate change is not only an environmental challenge, but also a health and social challenge that must be faced globally. Overall, the impact of climate change on global natural disasters demands immediate and collaborative action from around the world. Communities, governments and international organizations need to unite to reduce emissions, protect ecosystems and improve preparedness for future disasters.
