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Context

The Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) published by Germanwatch, offers a vital, data-driven analysis of countries' vulnerability to weather-related loss events.

What is the Climate Risk Index?

It is a retrospective analysis that quantifies the human and economic impacts of extreme weather events like storms, floods, and heatwaves.

It uses data from the EM-DAT international disaster database, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank.

Methodology: The index is calculated based on four key indicators:

• Number of deaths
• Deaths per 100,000 inhabitants
• Sum of losses in US$ in purchasing power parity (PPP)
• Losses per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Limitation: The CRI focuses only on rapid-onset events, excluding slow-onset processes like rising sea levels, ocean acidification, or melting glaciers. Thus, the true climate change impact is greater than reported. 

Key Findings of the Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026

Extreme weather events have killed more than 832,000 people and caused economic losses exceeding $4.5 trillion worldwide between 1995 and 2024.

Since 1995, over 9,700 documented extreme weather events have occurred globally. 

Storms and heatwaves each caused about a third of fatalities, while floods affected nearly half of those impacted. 

• Storms alone accounted for 58% of all economic losses, or about $2.64 trillion.

India's High Vulnerability

India ranks among the most affected due to its long coastline, reliance on monsoon agriculture, and dense population, which increase its susceptibility to various climate hazards.

• Long-Term Impact (1995-2024): India is the 9th most affected country globally over the past three decades.
• Human and Economic Toll: In last 30 years, India faced nearly 430 extreme weather events, leading to:
• Over 80,000 fatalities
• Economic losses of approximately $170-180 billion

India's Climate Action & Adaptation Strategies

• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Launched in 2008, this remains the core framework, comprising eight missions targeting key sectors.
• National Solar Mission
• National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
• National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
• National Water Mission
• National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
• National Mission for a Green India
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
• National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
• Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): India has enhanced its climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement. Key updated targets for 2030 include:
• To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% from 2005 levels.
• To achieve about 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources.
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): A global partnership launched by India in 2019 to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks.
• MISHTI Scheme: The 'Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes' was launched in 2023 to restore mangrove cover along the coastline. 

Source: DOWNTOEARTH