India ranks sixth among the most affected countries by extreme weather from 1993 to 2023, incurring $180 billion in losses and over 80,000 deaths. Significant events include devastating floods and heatwaves. The report also emphasizes the need for increased financial support for vulnerable nations in light of these climate challenges.
According to a recent report by Germanwatch’s Climate Risk Index (CRI), India ranks sixth among the top ten countries most affected by extreme weather events from 1993 to 2023. The country has endured more than 400 extreme events in this period, leading to an estimated economic loss of $180 billion and at least 80,000 fatalities. Notable incidents include the floods in 1993, 1998, and 2013, and severe heatwaves in 2002, 2003, and 2015.
Major natural disasters have had a significant impact on India, including cyclones such as the Gujarat cyclone in 1998 and Cyclone Amphan in 2020, as well as extensive flooding, notably the Uttarakhand floods of 2013. Heatwaves, with temperatures reaching around 50°C, have also resulted in substantial fatalities during various years, indicating a pattern of increasing climate threats.
In the global context, extreme weather events result in over 765,000 deaths and economic losses surpassing $4.2 trillion, comparable to Germany’s entire GDP. The report emphasizes that storm-related fatalities ranked highest among all extremes, followed by heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires over the last three decades.
The report also highlights extreme weather events from 2022, identifying countries mostly affected that year, including Pakistan, Belize, and Italy. Particularly, the European heatwave caused significant mortality, affecting multiple countries including Greece and Spain, demonstrating the pervasive nature of climate effects across regions.
A noteworthy aspect of the report is the classification of the affected countries, with five of the ten most impacted being lower middle-income nations, including India. The findings advocate for increased financial assistance, arguing that vulnerable countries suffer disproportionately from climate change due to their limited capacity to adapt and manage climate-related losses. Lina Adil, Policy Advisor at Germanwatch, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced climate action to mitigate further damage.
In summary, the report clearly outlines India’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and underscores the economic and human toll these incidents have generated over the past three decades. As extreme weather patterns become more frequent and severe, the call for financial support and effective climate adaptation strategies becomes increasingly critical for minimizing future losses and safeguarding communities.
Original Source: www.downtoearth.org.in
