India has secured the ninth position among countries most severely impacted by climate-related disasters over the past three decades, according to the latest Climate Risk Index (CRI) report released by Germanwatch, a Bonn-based non-governmental organization.
India's Climate Disaster Toll: 80,000 Lives and Counting
The comprehensive report reveals staggering global figures: 8.32 lakh lives were lost between 1995 and 2024 due to extreme weather events. India's contribution to this tragic statistic stands at approximately 80,000 fatalities, representing nearly 9.6% of global climate-related deaths during this period.
Presented during the ongoing COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, the report analyzed publicly available climate data to assess countries' vulnerability to climate disasters. The findings paint a concerning picture of India's exposure to nature's fury.
Economic Impact and Disaster Frequency
The financial toll of climate disasters on India has been equally devastating. The report documents 430 extreme weather events across various Indian regions over the past thirty years, resulting in economic losses totaling 170 billion USD.
India faces diverse climate threats including floods, heat waves, cyclones, and drought. The report specifically highlights how floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoons have displaced millions of people and caused significant damage to agriculture, while cyclones have repeatedly devastated coastal communities.
Notable Disasters and Improving Resilience
The report recalls several catastrophic events that have shaped India's climate vulnerability profile. Among the most significant were the 1998 Gujarat and 1999 Odisha cyclones, followed by cyclones Hudhud (2014) and Amphan (2020). Major flooding events include the 1993 Northern India floods, 2013 Uttarakhand disaster, and severe 2019 floods.
Recurring and unusually intense heatwaves have also taken a heavy toll, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius claiming numerous lives in 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2015.
Despite these challenges, there are signs of improvement. India's ranking has actually dropped from eighth position in the 2023 index to ninth in the current assessment. Furthermore, in the list of countries worst affected by disasters in the previous year alone, India's position improved significantly from 10th in 2023 to 15th currently.
This positive shift could indicate either fewer disasters occurring in India recently or the country's steadily improving resilience and adaptive capacity in facing climate challenges. The data suggests that while India remains highly vulnerable to climate impacts, there might be emerging evidence of effective disaster management and climate adaptation strategies.
