Global Climate Risk Index 2020: India 5th most vulnerable country to climate change

New Delhi : India has been listed at the fifth spot of the most vulnerable countries to climate change on the new analysis released on Wednesday. India has also recorded the highest number of fatalities due to climate change and the second highest monetary losses from its impact in 2018.

The Global Climate Risk Index 2020 has been published by environmental think tank Germanwatch. For the same, they analysed 181 countries and quantified impacts of climate change through economic losses, losses to GDP and fatalities to arrive at a ranking. 

In the list Japan has been placed on top as the most vulnerable followed by Philippines, Germany, Madagascar and India.

The southwest monsoon in India made situation worse as the Kerala was especially impacted where 324 people died because of drowning or being buried in the landslides set off by the flooding—the worst in hundred years.

“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 east coast was also hit by cyclones Titli and Gaja in October and November 2018. With wind speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour, cyclone Titli killed at least eight people and left around 450 000 without electricity,” according to the Index.

Japan remains the most vulnerable, according to the analysis, because it was hit by extreme weather events in 2018. From 6th to 8th of July, heavy rainfall with more than 200 mm/day was measured. The torrential rainfall resulted in flash floods and mudslides, killing more than 200 people and led to over 5 000 houses being damaged and the evacuation of 2.3 million people. The event caused losses to the tune of US$ 7 billion. From mid-July to the end of August 2018, severe heatwave led to 138 fatalities and in September 2018, Typhoon Jebi made landfall in Japan.