The phrase 'natural disaster' is used in the news, in social media, and in everyday conversations to describe extreme events like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or volcanoes.

But the term is problematic – if not harmful. Disasters are not natural occurrences. If the same cyclone or earthquake hits two different regions of the world, the effects would look very different.

A cyclone is a "hazard" – defined as a potential source of harm – but it depends on many factors before that cyclone becomes a "disaster." A hazard cannot become a disaster until it harms a community. When the damage and loss caused by a disaster is declared "natural" or "act of God," communities and governments are absolved of their responsibility.

The word natural takes away the social, political, environmental, and economic context of disasters and fails to recognize the social injustices that exist. The term "natural disaster" indicates that such calamities are inevitable even though we know the influence of humankind in the system. A more nuanced view of extreme events is needed. In fact, it is the choices we make that cause a disaster. - blog.adb.org/blogs

A version of this article appears in the print on February 21, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.