Comment on Typhoon Hagupit

Professor Haigh said: “Although it’s difficult to attribute the influence of climate change to any specific typhoon, it is likely that storms will intensify in a warmer climate.

“Rising ocean temperatures drive up the intensity of typhoons, meaning that the strongest storms are likely to get stronger, and the typhoon season seems to be getting longer.

“Rising sea levels caused by climate change also exacerbate the effect of typhoon storm surges, leading to more flooding. In low-lying countries like the Philippines, which is particularly affected by sea-level rise, this is a major problem.”

Dr Camilla Toulmin, Director of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), said that extreme weather events highlight the need for the UN climate talks to address the issue of helping people deal with the effects of climate change.

Dr Toulmin said: “Natural disasters like typhoons have a devastating human cost. One of the most tragic aspects of Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 was the loss of so many fathers and older sons, who stayed in the path of the storm to protect their family properties.

“But they also have a devastating economic impact. The Philippines used to be the largest exporter of rice in the world, but because of the damage caused in recent years by tropical storms, it is now a major net importer.

“This highlights the need for countries currently attending the UN climate talks in Lima to urgently address the issue of helping the world’s poorest communities cope with the effects of climate change.”

Professor Haigh and Dr Toulmin both sit on the advisory board of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU).