In News:

• The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025, published by the international environmental think tank Germanwatch, ranks countries based on their vulnerability to extreme weather events, assessing both human and economic losses due to climate-induced disasters.
• The index, which has been released annually since 2006, covers a 30-year period, evaluating the impact of extreme weather events in terms of economic losses, fatalities, and the number of affected people.

Key Findings:

• Global Impact: From 1993 to 2022, more than 9,400 extreme weather events occurred globally, resulting in 765,000 fatalities and USD 4.2 trillion in economic losses. Heatwaves, droughts, and floods were the leading causes of fatalities and displacement, with heatwaves alone claiming 61,778 lives (83% of fatalities) in 2022. Droughts affected the largest number of people, with 59% of the global population impacted during the past three decades.
• India's Position: India ranks as the 6th most affected country in the world by climate change between 1993 and 2022, suffering significant losses. During this period, the country experienced over 400 extreme weather events, including floods, heatwaves, cyclones, and droughts, causing a loss of USD 180 billion in economic damages and leading to at least 80,000 fatalities (10% of global deaths).

Some notable extreme weather events include:

• • Cyclones: Gujarat (1998), Odisha (1999), Hudhud (2014), and Amphan (2020).
  • Floods: Uttarakhand (2013), Jammu and Kashmir (2014), and Kerala (2018).
  • Heatwaves: Intense temperatures exceeding 50°C in 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2015.

Methodology of the Climate Risk Index

The CRI assesses the impact of extreme weather events across three hazard categories:

1. Hydrological (floods, landslides),
2. Meteorological (storms, cyclones),
3. Climatological (heatwaves, droughts).

The six key indicators used for the ranking are:

• Economic loss
• Fatalities
• Affecting population, assessed in both absolute and relative terms.

Climate Risk and Its Implications for India

India’s vulnerability to climate change is highlighted by frequent and intense extreme weather events. The country faces risks from:

• Floods: Regular heavy monsoons lead to significant displacement and damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
• Cyclones: Rising sea levels and warming oceans increase the frequency and intensity of cyclones.
• Heatwaves: India experiences rising temperatures, with heatwaves becoming more intense, contributing to health crises.
• Droughts: A growing concern, affecting agriculture and water resources.

Additionally, the Asia-Pacific Climate Report 2024 projects that India may face a 24.7% GDP loss by 2070 due to climate change impacts, driven by rising sea levels and decreasing labor productivity.

Global Challenges in Climate Change Mitigation

• Historical Responsibility vs. Future Emissions: Developed nations, despite having contributed more to global emissions historically, are pressuring emerging economies like India to take greater responsibility for climate action. This has led to tensions over burden-sharing and the need for climate finance.
• Global Temperature Breach: In 2024, the world breached the 1.5°C threshold for a full year, highlighting the inadequacy of current mitigation efforts. Projections indicate a global temperature increase of 2.6-3.1°C by 2100 if current trends continue.
• Weak Commitments and Insufficient Finance: Many countries have not updated their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the USD 300 billion annual funding promised for developing nations is insufficient to meet climate adaptation and mitigation needs.

India's Climate Adaptation Challenges and Suggestions

India faces several climate adaptation challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, insufficient funding, and a lack of robust policy frameworks for disaster risk management. To enhance adaptation efforts, the following measures are suggested:

• Enhanced Climate Finance: Developing countries need greater financial and technical support to manage and adapt to climate-induced losses.
• Strengthening Mitigation Efforts: Nations, including India, must scale up their NDCs to restrict global warming to 1.5°C or lower.
• Accountability of High-Income Countries: Developed nations must expedite mitigation actions and increase financial contributions to support climate-vulnerable countries like India.