When asked to name a global trend many people reply, “terrorism.” That is indeed a
phenomenon of modern life. But terrorism is far less likely to impact you personally
than an array of other changes sweeping the planet.
Munich Re, the world’s largest reinsurance company after assessing the total insurance
losses due to the September 11 events, stated that it is more concerned about climate
change than future terrorist risks.
As the climate changes, what had been considered “natural” disasters like flooding and
hurricanes are increasing. The changing climate is forcing cities to deal with such acute
challenges as storms, heatwaves and water shortages. It also imposes a wide array of
long-term impacts such as droughts, the spread of diseases and the demise of
historically important industries.