Climate Risk Index 2025

According to the Climate Risk Index 2025, published by Germanwatch, India was ranked 6th among the 10 most affected countries by extreme weather events between 1993 and 2022. The country accounted for:

• 10% of global fatalities caused by extreme weather.
• 4.3% of total economic damage (in dollar terms).
• More than 400 extreme weather events, leading to $180 billion in losses and at least 80,000 deaths.

Global Rankings in Climate Risk Index 2025

The top five most affected countries ahead of India are:

1. Dominica
2. China
3. Honduras
4. Myanmar
5. Italy

The other four countries in the top 10 include:

• Greece
• Spain
• Vanuatu
• Philippines

Major Extreme Weather Events in India (1993–2022)

India has faced multiple extreme weather disasters, including:

• Devastating floods in 1993, 1998, and 2013.
• Severe heatwaves in 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2015, with temperatures nearing 50°C.
• Cyclones, including:
  • 1998 Gujarat cyclone
  • 1999 Odisha cyclone
  • Cyclone Hudhud (2014)
  • Cyclone Amphan (2020)
• Uttarakhand floods (2013)

Data Sources and Methodology

• The Climate Risk Index is based on extreme weather event data from the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT) and socio-economic data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• The ranking considers economic losses and human impacts (fatalities, injuries, and displaced populations), with the most affected country ranked highest.

Concerns Over Climate Finance

• The report highlights insufficient climate finance available to deal with extreme weather events.
• COP29 in Baku failed to deliver an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance.

(Source: HT)