India Ranks Sixth Among Nations Impacted by Extreme Weather Events
India has been identified as the sixth most affected nation by extreme weather events from 1993 to 2023, with economic losses of $180 billion and over 80,000 fatalities. Notable events include severe floods and widespread heatwaves. The report stresses the necessity for enhanced financial support to assist vulnerable countries manage climate change impacts effectively.
According to a recent report, India ranks sixth among the top ten countries most affected by extreme weather events from 1993 to 2023. The country has faced significant challenges, including devastating floods in 1993, 1998, and 2013, and severe heatwaves in 2002, 2003, and 2015. The Climate Risk Index (CRI) by Germanwatch estimates that over 400 extreme events have resulted in economic losses amounting to $180 billion and at least 80,000 fatalities.
The report highlights notable disasters, including the cyclones that impacted Gujarat in 1998 and Odisha in 1999, as well as Cyclones Hudhud and Amphan in 2014 and 2020. Extreme flooding, such as the one in Uttarakhand in 2013 and the severe floods of 2019, also took a toll on the nation. The report underscores the alarming trend of increasingly severe heatwaves, with temperatures approaching 50°C leading to fatalities during several years.
The analysis indicates that countries like China, India, and the Philippines are significantly affected by recurrent extreme events, in contrast to nations such as Dominica, Honduras, Myanmar, and Vanuatu, which experience exceptional extreme events. Globally, extreme weather conditions have caused over 765,000 fatalities and economic losses surpassing $4.2 trillion, equivalent to the GDP of Germany.
The report further examines the extreme weather events of 2022, identifying Pakistan, Belize, and Italy as among the most affected countries, followed by Greece, Spain, and Puerto Rico. It notes that the 2022 heatwave resulted in the highest fatalities, particularly across Southern Europe, demonstrating a worrying trend in climate impacts.
From 1993 to 2022, five of the ten most affected nations, including India, belong to the lower middle-income category. In contrast, the report notes that during 2022, only two countries were classified as lower middle-income, with the remainder primarily from high-income groups, illustrating a disparity in climate impact resilience.
Finally, the report advocates for increased financial assistance for vulnerable nations, stressing the disproportionate effects of climate change on economically disadvantaged countries. Lina Adil, a Policy Advisor at Germanwatch, emphasized the urgent need for these nations to enhance their mitigation efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
India’s ranking as the sixth most affected country by extreme weather events highlights the urgent need for action to combat climate change. With significant economic losses and fatalities resulting from various disasters, it is imperative that both financial and technical support be provided to vulnerable nations. The report underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change faced by lower middle-income countries.
Original Source: www.downtoearth.org.in
