Main meteorological disasters and their impacts on the economic and societal developments in China

The main meteorological disasters and their impacts on society in China are summarised. China has meteorological disasters that take many different types, affect large area, have a high frequency, and cause severe damages. Since 1980s, climate in China seems to become more variable and extreme meteorological events have occurred more frequently, which is most likely a consequence of the global warming. Agriculture is the sector that has been most seriously affected by meteorological disasters. Over the last ten years, there are 350 millions of persons affected by various disasters and 200 billion RMB economic losses each year.