What is Acute Climate Risk?

Acute climate risks refer to immediate or short-term impacts resulting from climate-related events/hazards. These risks are typically associated with extreme weather events, such as tropical storms, heatwaves, floods, hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, and other climatic phenomena that occur over relatively short timeframes.

Acute climate risks can have significant consequences for humanity, ecosystems, infrastructure, supply chain, and economies. They can lead to direct physical damage, loss of life, disruption of essential services, displacement of communities, and economic losses. The severity and frequency of these risks are often influenced by our changing climate, which can intensify the occurrence and impact of extreme weather events.

Some examples of acute climate risks include:

1. Extreme Weather Events: Intense tropical storms, heavy rainfall, high winds, haboobs, hailstorms, heat waves, cold waves, and blizzards can cause immediate damage to buildings, infrastructure, and agricultural crops. 
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2. Flooding: Heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt can result in flash floods or riverine flooding, leading to property damage, destruction of crops, infrastructure disruptions, and potential loss of life.
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3. Drought: Prolonged periods of limited rainfall or water scarcity can cause drought conditions - affecting agriculture, water supplies, and ecosystems. Droughts can lead to reduced crop yields, increased risk of wildfires, and economic losses in sectors that depend on water resources.
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4. Wildfires: Hot and dry conditions, coupled with strong winds, can create favorable conditions for wildfires. These fires can spread rapidly, destroying forests, habitats, and property, resulting in significant environmental and economic impacts.
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5. Heatwaves: Extended periods of exceptionally high temperatures can pose significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. Heatwaves can also strain energy systems, increasing the demand for cooling, and impacting agriculture and livestock.
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6. Storm Surges: Coastal areas are at risk of storm surges, which are rapid rises in sea levels caused by hurricanes or cyclones. Storm surges can result in coastal erosion, damage to infrastructure, and flooding in low-lying areas.

The climate has been changing for decades and will continue to change. Addressing acute climate risks requires a combination of preparedness, disaster response, infrastructure resilience, early warning systems, and climate adaptation measures. It is pertinent to integrate climate risk assessments and planning into policies, emergency management strategies, and infrastructure development to enhance resilience and minimize the impacts of acute climate risks on communities and ecosystems.

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