India has significantly improved its ranking on the Climate Risk Index (CRI), moving from the seventh worst-affected country in 2019 to the 49th position in 2022. However, its long-term vulnerability remains alarming. Between 1993 and 2022, India ranked as the sixth most affected nation globally, underscoring its persistent exposure to extreme weather events.
The latest CRI 2025 report, released by the environmental think tank Germanwatch, analyzed six key indicators, including fatalities and economic losses caused by extreme weather events from 1993 to 2022. The findings highlight the urgent need for stronger climate risk management, both in India and globally.
India’s Climate Toll: Lives Lost and Economic Damage
Over the past three decades, India has endured 400 extreme weather events, resulting in the loss of 80,000 lives and causing nearly $180 billion in economic damages. These figures place India among the most vulnerable nations, despite improvements in its short-term ranking.
Globally, extreme weather events claimed over 765,000 lives between 1993 and 2022. The world witnessed more than 9,400 disasters linked to climate change, leading to $4.2 trillion in economic damages (adjusted for inflation). The report identifies storms (35%), heat waves (30%), and floods (27%) as the primary causes of fatalities during this period.
Growing Climate Risks
The report also sheds light on the increasing impact of climate change on high-income nations. Seven out of the ten most affected countries in 2022 belonged to wealthier economies, challenging the notion that only developing nations suffer the worst consequences.
“This indicates that, while high-income countries have significantly better coping capacities than lower-income nations, they must also strengthen their climate risk management,” the report stated.
Among European nations, Italy, Spain, and Greece have emerged as some of the most vulnerable countries over the past three decades. Additionally, the top five most affected countries from 1993 to 2022 include Dominica, China, Honduras, Myanmar, and Italy, reflecting the widespread and unpredictable nature of climate risks.
India’s History of Devastating Climate Disasters
The report highlights India’s history of extreme weather disasters, noting the devastating floods of 1993, 1998, and 2013, which displaced millions and caused severe economic damage.
India has also suffered from frequent and deadly heat waves, particularly in 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2015, when temperatures soared to nearly 50°C, leading to a significant loss of life. The Odisha super cyclone in 1999 and the Gujarat cyclone in 1998 were among the most destructive tropical storms in India’s history.
More recently, cyclones such as Hudhud (2014) and Amphan (2020) wreaked havoc on coastal regions, displacing thousands and causing billions in damages. Severe floods, including those in Uttarakhand (2013) and northern India (1993), also contributed to the country’s high fatality and economic loss numbers.
The floods of 2019 further reinforced India’s vulnerability to climate change, with multiple states facing unprecedented rainfall and flash floods. The report emphasizes that recurring and unusually intense heat waves, coupled with extreme monsoons and storms, have repeatedly put millions of lives at risk.
Global Climate Risks and the Call for Action
The CRI 2025 report arrives just days after the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked extreme weather events, amplified by climate change, as the second greatest global risk, following armed conflicts and war.
With climate disasters becoming more intense and frequent, nations across the world must prioritize climate resilience strategies. India, despite improving its short-term ranking, still faces long-term climate threats, necessitating urgent policy interventions, improved disaster preparedness, and greater investment in climate adaptation measures.
With a passion for news writing and a deep interest in Journalism, Bowrna wants to write articles that create an impact. Not only writing, she also has a passion for voiceovers and also aspires to become a Radio Jockey in the future. When not writing, she likes to listen to songs and dance to her heart's content. She is proficient in English, Tamil and Hindi.
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