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Climate Vulnerability Index

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Environment
  • Published
    29th Oct, 2021

Recently, a report titled “Mapping India’s Climate Vulnerability – A District-level Assessment” has been released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) (not-for-profit policy research institution).

Context

Recently, a report titled “Mapping India’s Climate Vulnerability – A District-level Assessment” has been released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) (not-for-profit policy research institution).

Key-Points

  • The report also introduced the first Climate Vulnerability Index.
  • The index analyzed 640 districts in India and found that 463 of these were at risk of severe floods, droughts and cyclones.
  • Affected Countries: 27 Indian states and Union territories are at risk of extreme weather events that often disrupt local economies and displace vulnerable communities.
    • The provinces of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Bihar are the most vulnerable to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and cyclones in India.
  • The magnitude of the Impact of Climate Change: More than 80% of Indians live in districts at high risk of climate change.
    • Seventeen out of 20 people in the country are at risk of climate change, with all five Indians living in high-risk areas.
    • More than 45% of these regions have had “unsustainable changes in the environment and infrastructure”.
  • Low adaptability: More than 60% of India's regions have medium to low adaptive in dealing with extreme weather events.
  • The Role of Anthropogenic Activities: Anthropogenic activity has already put vulnerable districts at greater risk for the effects of natural disasters. Some of the activities have resulted in:
    • Loss of wetlands and loss of mangroves can act as a natural barrier, making it extremely vulnerable.
    • Land degradation such as the disappearance of a forest hole, over-construction, has led to damage to the natural environment.
  • Monitoring the Financial Crisis: Combating the rising frequency and rate of extreme weather events is costly in developing countries such as India.
    • Investments in infrastructure such as housing, transportation, and industry will be threatened by these events, especially along coastal areas, adding that increased climate-related insurance losses could lead to the next financial crisis.

Other Indices Related to Climate Change

  • Climate Change Performance Index (Germanwatch, the New Climate Institute and the Climate Action Network)
  • Global Climate Risk Index 2021 (Germanwatch)
  • Environmental Performance Index (Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum).
  • Hunger Hotspots Report (FAO and WFP)
  • Children’s Climate Risk Index (UNICEF)

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