Context:

The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026, published by Germanwatch at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, has recently issued a stark warning for India and the global community. Analyzing three decades of climate data from 1995 to 2024, the report ranks India ninth among the most climate-affected countries.

About Climate Risk Index:

·        Annual publication tracking human and economic toll of extreme weather since 2006.

·        Evaluates countries using six indicators: economic losses, fatalities, and people affected (absolute and relative).

·        Data sourced from EM-DAT, World Bank, and IMF.

Key findings of the report:

Most Affected Countries (Long-Term & 2024):

·         Long-term (1995–2024): Dominica, Myanmar, Honduras top the list.

·         2024: St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada, and Chad most affected.

·         Small Island Developing States (SIDS) heavily affected despite low emissions.

India’s Position:

·         Ranked 9th in the long-term CRI (1995–2024), 15th in 2024.

·         Ranked 3rd globally in terms of people affected by extreme weather in 2024.

Impact in India:

·         Over 430 extreme weather events: floods, cyclones, heatwaves, droughts.

·         80,000 deaths.

·         1.3 billion people affected.

·         Economic losses over USD 170 billion (annual average USD 5.6 billion).

·         Persistent “continuous climate threats” – communities face repeated disasters without fully recovering.

·         Notable events:

o    2024 monsoon floods displaced 8 million across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tripura.

o    Heatwaves exceeding 48–50°C in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh.

o    Cyclones: Amphan (2020), Fani (2019), Yaas (2021).

Science Behind Extreme Weather:

·         Human-induced climate change increases frequency and severity of 74% of extreme events.

·         Floods and storms caused 58% of monetary damage; heatwaves and storms caused two-thirds of fatalities.

·         Floods affected half of all victims.

·         Disasters exacerbate poverty and displacement in India.

Adaptation and Mitigation Challenges:

·         62 countries have National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), but implementation is weak.

·         Developing countries require USD 130–415 billion per year for adaptation by 2030; the Adaptation Fund received only USD 130 million in 2024.

·         Recovery costs strain budgets, preventing long-term climate planning.

Loss and Damage:

·         USD 4.5 trillion in losses justify operationalizing Loss and Damage mechanisms.

·         Future financial needs projected at USD 1,132–1,741 billion per year by 2050.

·         Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) launched at COP30 with USD 250 million available.

·         Funding gaps remain: developed countries promised USD 788 million; less than USD 400 million transferred.

Policy Imperatives:

·         Mitigation: Reduce global emissions to limit warming below 1.5°C.

·         Adaptation Finance: Restructure USD 300 billion NCQG to include loss and damage.

·         NAP Implementation: Focus on executing adaptation plans in high-risk countries.

·         Private Sector Engagement: Mobilize USD 50 billion annually through policy and blended finance.

Conclusion:

CRI 2026 emphasizes that incremental responses are insufficient. For India, urgent action is needed to scale finance, implement adaptation, and pursue climate justice.