The Philippines ranked 7th among the countries most affected by extreme weather events in 2024, according to the Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026 by Germanwatch, a development and environmental group based in Germany. The country moved up four spots from the previous year—a sign that while storms keep getting stronger, our defenses may not be improving fast enough.
Storms That Keep Coming Back Stronger
The report was released as the country continues to recover from Typhoons Fung-wong (Uwan) and Kalmaegi (Tino), which killed more than 250 people and displaced thousands. Other destructive systems including Gaemi (Carina), Yagi (Enteng), Trami (Kristine), and Man-Yi (Pepito) were added to the losses, alongside a severe El Niño-driven heat wave that scorched much of the country in early 2024.
Scientists from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) said climate change made these storms stronger and more frequent, increasing average intensity by 7.2 km/h and boosting the chances of severe typhoons like Gaemi by 30%.
Decades of Lessons, Still Unlearned
From 1995 to 2024, the Philippines has faced 371 extreme weather events, making it the 7th most affected country globally over nearly three decades. Disasters like Ondoy (2009), Yolanda (2013), Ompong (2018), and Rolly (2020)remain painful reminders of our vulnerability.
In total, these events have caused 27,500 deaths, affected 230 million Filipinos, and led to about USD 35 billion in damages. Despite massive spending on flood control and disaster response, many communities remain exposed,raising the question: are we learning enough from every storm?
A Call for Action, Not Just Recovery
At the ongoing COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, Filipino advocates are urging wealthy nations to fulfill their $300 billion climate finance commitment to help vulnerable countries adapt.
But at home, experts stress the need to pair global aid with local climate resilience, better urban planning, and nature-based solutions.
Without long-term vision, said Germanwatch’s Vera Künzel, countries like the Philippines will continue facing “insurmountable challenges” every time a new storm arrives.
