A CALL has been made for rapid and far-reaching new policies to reduce greenhouse gases – following a stark report that lays out the devastating cost of climate change.

The Scottish Government should also continue to champion financial help for the loss and damage suffered by the most vulnerable countries, according to the head of Christian Aid Scotland.

The call comes as new research shows that climate change cost the world billions in 2021. The study identifies 10 extreme events, influenced by climate change, that each caused $1.5 billion or more in damage. Hurricane Ida, which struck the US in August, cost $65bn, while floods which ravaged Europe in July racked up $43bn in losses.

Floods, cyclones and drought also killed and displaced millions across the globe in places which have done little to cause climate change.

The report is released today as a new poll shows the UK public think climate change should be a top priority for the government in 2022 – above healthcare and the economy.

Christian Aid said the extreme events detailed in its report highlighted the need for concrete climate action. The researchers point out that the Paris Agreement set the goal of keeping temperature rise to below 1.5C compared to pre-industrial levels, yet the outcomes from COP26 in Glasgow do not currently leave the world on track to meet this goal, and much more urgent action is required.

The report also stresses that it is vital more is done in 2022 to provide financial support to the most vulnerable countries, in particular the creation of a fund to deal with the permanent loss and damage suffered in poor countries caused by climate change.

“There’s no escaping that weather is getting more extreme and it’s getting more and more ugly,” said Sally Foster-Fulton, head of Christian Aid Scotland. “Storm Arwen knocked out power in Scotland for thousands of people just last month but in more fragile contexts extreme weather, such as the unprecedented flooding in South Sudan highlighted in the report, means people lose everything – their homes and livelihoods, not just the ability to switch on the lights. COP27 will be here before we know it but that doesn’t mean we need to wait until November for urgent action. In Scotland, that means continuing to build on the progress so far, with rapid and far-reaching new policies needed to meet the 2030 target of 75% reductions in greenhouse gases.

“The Scottish Government should also continue to champion finance for loss and damage suffered by the most vulnerable countries – a topic on which it was outspoken at COP26.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed at COP26 that Scotland’s contribution to addressing loss and damage would be doubled to £2m.

AID worker Nushrat Chowdhury, from Bangladesh, who was featured in the Sunday National during COP26, said her country had suffered directly from climate change.

She said: “I was at COP26 in Glasgow and while we heard lots of warm words from politicians, what we need is action that will see emissions fall rapidly and support given to those in need.

“Although it was good to see the issue of loss and damage become a major issue at COP26, it was bitterly disappointing to leave without a fund set up to actually help people who are suffering permanent losses from climate change. Bringing that fund to life needs to be a global priority in 2022.”

The Christian Aid report, “Counting The Cost 2021: a year of climate breakdown”, identifies 15 of the most destructive climate disasters of the year. Ten of those events cost $1.5bn or more. Most of these estimates are based only on insured losses, meaning the true financial costs are likely to be even higher.

In addition to the financial cost, the extreme weather events have caused severe human suffering including food insecurity, drought, mass displacements and loss of life.

South Sudan has experienced its worst floods in 60 years, which have seen more than 850,000 people affected, many of whom were already internally displaced, while East Africa continues to be ravaged with drought, highlighting the injustice of the climate crisis.

Some of the disasters in 2021 hit rapidly, like Cyclone Yaas, which struck India and Bangladesh in May and caused losses valued at $3bn in just a few days. Other events took months to unfold, like the Paraná River drought in Latin America, which has seen the river, a vital part of the region’s economy, at its lowest level in 77 years and impacted lives and livelihoods in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

Four of the 10 most costly events took place in Asia, with floods and typhoons costing a combined $24bn.

However, the impact of extreme weather was felt all over the world. Australia suffered floods in March which displaced 18,000 people and saw damage worth $2.1bn, while floods in Canada’s British Columbia led to $7.5bn in damage and 15,000 people having to flee their homes. Insurance and financial loss data on the recent tornadoes in the US is incomplete, so is not included in this report but may be included in next year’s study.

The report also highlights slow-developing crises such as the drought in the Chad Basin which has seen Lake Chad shrink by 90% since the 1970s and threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions of the world’s poorest who live in the region.

Such climate devastation is set to continue without action to cut emissions. Insurer Aon has warned that 2021 is expected to be the sixth time global natural catastrophes have crossed the $100bn insured loss threshold. All six have happened since 2011 and 2021 will be the fourth in five years.

Rachel Mander, a member of the Young Christian Climate Network, who took part in a walking relay to Glasgow for COP26, said: “Climate change will bankrupt us, and along the way we will lose so much more than money. To avoid this eventuality we need to take courageous action – making sure that the burden of costs are distributed and do not worsen global inequality, while also making activities which drive climate change more expensive.”

A new Savanta ComRes poll, commissioned by Christian Aid, found that the UK public think the climate crisis should be the UK Government’s top priority heading into 2022, above healthcare, the economy, crime, social care and housing.

The respondents were asked what issue should be the Government’s New Year’s Resolution for 2022, with 27% saying climate change, followed by 23% for healthcare.