Natural disasters 2010: Munich Re blames climate change

Moonbats

It’s that time of year again, and as the end of year bell rings, Pavlov’s dog begins to slaver, and the ecotards at Munich Re start yelping at the moon. Munich Re are long-term climate alarmists (see here) blaming everything and anything on climate change – remember they are an insurance company, so therefore spreading fear and alarm in the community is good for business. And the Sydney Morning Herald falls for it every year:

The Haiti earthquake and floods in Pakistan and China helped make 2010 an exceptional year for natural disasters, killing 295,000 and costing $130 billion, the world’s top reinsurer said Monday.

“The high number of weather-related natural catastrophes and record temperatures both globally and in different regions of the world provide further indications of advancing climate change,” said Munich Re in a report.

And which natural disaster contributed most of those deaths?

The earthquake in Haiti in January was by far the worst disaster in terms of human cost, killing 222,570 people, Munich Re said. (source)

So unless Munich Re somehow blames earthquakes on climate change, you can forget over 75% of the total straight away. Whilst there were significant deaths from a heatwave and forest fires in Russia, there is no link to “climate change” – it’s just weather – but there is a clear link to drainage of peat bogs in the 1960s which made them susceptible to serious fire, and to the abolition of the national fire service in 2007 which crippled Russia’s ability to deal with the outbreaks. But as always, never let the facts get in the way of a good story (or a good marketing tactic).