Climate crisis report: India 5th most vulnerable nation

The Global Climate Risk Index 2020 by Germanwatch on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid assessed 181 countries on the impacts of climate crisis on them. The report evaluated mainly on the basis of economic losses, losses to GDP and fatalities to arrive at a ranking.

As per the website, “The Global Climate Risk Index 2020 analyses to what extent countries and regions have been affected by impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, floods, heatwaves, etc.). The most recent data available — for 2018 and from 1999 to 2018 — were taken into account. The countries and territories affected most in 2018 were Japan, the Philippines as well as Germany. For the period from 1999 to 2018 Puerto Rico, Myanmar and Haiti rank highest.”

According to the analysis, out of 181 countries, India is the fifth most vulnerable country globally to the climate crisis. India recorded the highest deaths due to climate crisis-led disasters and the second-highest amount of monetary losses in 2018, said the analysis.

The most vulnerable country being Japan followed by Philippines, Germany, Madagascar and India. The report further indicates that rich European nations are also extremely vulnerable to severe climate crisis impacts.

The southwest monsoon that hit India in 2018 severely affected Kerala affecting almost 324 people, who died due to drowning or being buried in the landslides set off by the flooding. It is one of the worst crisis in a hundred years. According to the report, “Over 220,000 people had to leave their homes, 20 000 houses and 80 dams were destroyed. The damage amounted to US$ 2.8 billion. India’s east coast was also hit by Cyclones Titli and Gaja in October and November 2018, with wind speeds of up to 150 km per hour. Cyclone Titli killed at least eight people and left around 450 000 without electricity.”

Japan, which at the top of the rankings report was hit by extreme weather events in 2018. For instance, heavy rainfall of more than 200 mm/day during July, which resulted in flash floods, mudslides, and killed more than 200 people. As many as 5 000 houses were damaged and 2.3 million people evacuated. A loss of US$ 7 billion was reported. Between July and August, severe heatwave led to 138 fatalities. while in September 2018, Typhoon Jebi made landfall in Japan.

Source: Hindustan Times