WB: 5% of GDP, the damages caused by natural disasters
Economic losses caused by natural disasters could reach 5% of GDP, as Romania is one of the EU countries with high exposure to climate change, according to a recent World Bank report.
"Global climate changes will affect seriously the 10 new EU members, Bulgaria, Southern Romania and Croatia being the most vulnerable areas. Although they have a modest contribution to global emissions of greenhouse gases, they will have to support social and economic costs related to global warming, respectively the reduction of emissions and adapting to environmental changes. These include coordinated measures in health, water and land management, agriculture and forestry, urban areas, transport and energy", says the report presented by the World Bank.
Specialists estimate that, by 2050, temperatures in Romania will increase, the number of cold days could decrease, while the rainfall regime would enhance, in the sense of an increase in frequency of rain.
The greatest risks for Romania are floods, landslides, drought, extreme temperatures and storms.
Bulgaria, in addition to the risks mentioned in the case of Romania, is also exposed to fire of vegetation, while Hungary is the third country in the EU that could be seriously affected by global warming, the report said.
The law of mandatory household insurance against floods, earthquakes and landslides will most likely come into force since July 1, 2010. Discussions on implementation have been taking place for ten years, amid concerns about the amount of not covered damages that might result in case of a catastrophic event, as a result of the low penetration rate of voluntary household insurance among citizens.
On July 1, 2009, the share of insured houses amounted to nearly 25% of the total houses, the number of contracts in force being of 1.9 million, out of the estimated total of 8.3 million homes, according to the latest data of the ISC.
Author: Andreea IONETE
on 30.10.2009
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