CLIMATE RISK INDEX (CRI) REPORT

NEWS – The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026, released by Germanwatch during the COP30 Summit in Belem, Brazil, ranks India 9th among the countries worst hit by climate-related disasters between 1995–2024.
The report, published since 2006, assesses countries based on the human and economic impacts of extreme weather events.

HIGHLIGHTS

Key Highlights of CRI Report

• Global Impact: Over 8.32 lakh lives lost worldwide (1995–2024) due to extreme weather.
• India’s Toll: Around 80,000 deaths, accounting for 9.6% of global fatalities.
• Economic Loss: Estimated at USD 170 billion from 430 weather disasters including floods, cyclones, droughts, and heatwaves.
• Notable Events: Odisha (1999) and Gujarat (1998) cyclones, Uttarakhand floods (2013), and cyclones Amphan (2020) and Hudhud (2014).

Global South Vulnerability

• 8 of the 10 most-affected nations belong to the low- and middle-income category.
• The poorer Global South countries, including India, face disproportionate risks due to weaker adaptive capacities.
• Human-induced climate change and El Niño have amplified frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

India’s Climate Resilience Initiatives

• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) (launched 2019):
  • Promotes resilient infrastructure globally.
  • Every $1 invested can save $4 in post-disaster recovery.
• Key Sub-initiatives:
  • IRIS (Infrastructure for Resilient Island States) – for small island nations.
  • IRAF (Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund) – launched at COP27 for developing countries and SIDS.

WMO’s State of the Climate Update (COP30)

• 2025 likely among top three warmest years recorded.
• Global temperature rise: +1.42°C above pre-industrial levels.
• Rising greenhouse gases and ocean heat content confirm persistent warming trends.