Multi-hazards in an unequal world

The growing global exposure to multi-hazard events highlights the need for a comprehensive understanding of how vulnerability interacts with these hazards, particularly in regions with lower socio-economic development, as vulnerability amplifies the impacts and hinders recovery efforts, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. Here, we provide a global level analysis of multi-hazard exposure and disparities in socio-economic vulnerabilities. Our findings reveal that most of the global population has been exposed to multi-hazards (84% of total population). Our analysis discloses a discernible global trend as we observe disparities of individuals with lower socio-economic development are significantly more likely to being exposed to multi-hazards more frequently. The same pattern also persists at regional scales and underscores a critical intersection between natural hazards and socio-economic vulnerability, where certain populations are disproportionately affected. When looking into the intersection of compounding vulnerabilities based on overlapping social identities and disparities, we find that this pattern persists and exacerbates in some regions. In the face of climate change and increasing inequalities in the world, recognizing and addressing these trends are essential, not only from a humanitarian perspective but also for advancing global development agendas and climate justice. These compounded risks faced by marginalized communities should be better aligned with global initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure equitable and resilient societies.