Munich Re says risks related to climate change are rising dramatically, with natural catastrophe events tripling since 1980.

The giant reinsurer used the UN’s talks on climate change in Cancun, Mexico to release a new report showing floods and windstorms have more than doubled in 30 years.

The first nine months of this year also recorded the second-highest number of natural catastrophes in terms of claims in the past 30 years.

Munich Re says insured losses are increasing by an average 11% a year.

In Australia and NZ this year, storms, floods and an earthquake have cost reinsurers and insurers more than $US2.07 billion ($2.1 billion), compared to other global costs of about $3.4 billion ($3.45 billion).

Munich Re believes weather-related catastrophes can only be explained by climate change.

“This view that weather extremes are more frequent and intense due to global warming is in keeping with current scientific findings,” it said.