Which Countries Are Most Threatened and Vulnerable by Climate Change?
The Germanwatch Institute presented the results of the Global Climate Risk Index (IGRC) 2020 during COP25. According to this analysis, based on the impacts of extreme weather events and the socioeconomic losses they cause, Japan, the Philippines and Germany are currently the places most affected by climate change.
Climate risk reflects the vulnerability of countries to the direct consequences of extreme weather phenomena.
In the last weeks of 2019, we have seen an entire country burning (Australia) which, in just four months, lost 8.4 million hectares, more than 1,300 homes, 27 human lives and, according to estimates from the University of Sydney, about of 1 billion animals: all this for one of the worst fires in its history. Who are to blame? The extreme drought and intense heat caused by climate change in this region.
What Is IGRC (Global Climate Risk Index)?
Climate risk is a concept that reflects the vulnerability of countries to the direct consequences – deaths and economic losses – of extreme weather phenomena, and which is measured annually by the German observatory Germanwatch with the Global Climate Risk Index (IGRC). Episodes like the one mentioned in Australia, and similar ones, remind us that some areas of the planet are more exposed than others to the impacts resulting from climate change.
IGRC 2020 was presented in Madrid during the last United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP25 Chile) and determines which are the 10 countries currently most affected by climate change – based on the events.
We will review them below:
JAPAN (IGRC: 5.5)
Heavy rains, the heat wave, the Osaka earthquake and typhoon Jebi, which devastated Japan in 2018, made the country the most threatened in the world by climate change. In total, meteorology was the cause of 1,282 deaths in the country – 1.01 per 100,000 inhabitants – and caused economic losses by a value of 35.839 billion dollars and a drop in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of 0.64 %.
PHILIPPINES (IGRC: 11.17)
Typhoon Mangkhut’s passage through the Philippines in 2018 affected more than 250,000 people across the country, leaving at least 59 dead by torrential rains. According to the German watch observatory, the extreme phenomena that year caused 455 deaths in the country – 0.43 per 100,000 inhabitants – and more than $ 4.54 billion in economic losses and a drop in GDP per capita of 0.48%.
GERMANY (IGRC: 13.83)
The German country is in third place in the ranking of countries most affected by climate risk due to the heat wave of 2018: the hottest year in its history with damages in the agricultural sector of more than 3.5 billion dollars. Altogether, meteorology caused 1,246 deaths – 1.5 per 100,000 inhabitants – losses of 5.038 billion dollars and a 0.12% reduction in GDP per capita.
MADAGASCAR (IGRC: 15.83)
Global warming and climate risks threaten the survival of lemurs and other animal species endemic to the island. In addition, adverse phenomena have made the African country one of the most vulnerable in terms of climate change with 72 deaths – 0.27 per 100,000 inhabitants – about $ 568 million in economic losses and a drop in GDP per capita of 1 , 32%.
INDIA (IGRC: 18.17)
The Indian subcontinent is another major one damaged by extreme heat, floods and sandstorms, among other devastating natural disasters. In 2018, they caused more than 2,000 deaths – 0.16 per 100,000 inhabitants – losses of 37.807 billion dollars and a decrease in GDP per capita of 0.36%.
SRI LANKA (IGRC: 19)
This small country of the Gulf of Bengal could lose an important part of its population by the climatic migrations in the future. In addition, in 2018 the weather in Sri Lanka caused 38 deaths – 0.18 per 100,000 inhabitants -, more than $ 3.625 billion in losses and a drop in GDP per capita of 1.24%.
KENYA (IGRC: 19.67)
The African country is another of the most vulnerable in terms of climate change due to the droughts of 2018 that, months later, left more than a million people on the verge of starvation. In total, this year’s hostile climatology in Kenya was responsible for the deaths of 113 people – 0.24 per 100,000 inhabitants – for losses of more than $ 708 million and a drop in GDP per capita of 0.4%.
RWANDA (IRC: 21.17)
This small African country, affected during the last half of the century by periods of famine and armed conflicts, is one of the most vulnerable to global warming and extreme climatic episodes. In 2018, they caused 88 deaths – 0.73 per 100,000 inhabitants, economic damage for a value of 93.2 million dollars and a reduction in GDP per capita of 0.34%.
CANADA (IGRC: 21.83)
Perhaps it is surprising to see this giant among the places most affected by climate change. However, a government study suggests that Canada is warming up to twice as fast as the rest of the planet. In addition, in 2018 the weather caused 103 deaths – 0.28 per 100,000 inhabitants -, $ 2.282 billion in losses and a 0.12% drop in GDP per capita.
FIJI (IGRC: 22.5)
This paradisiacal archipelago located in Oceania closes the ranking of countries most affected by climate change. In 2018, it suffered an 8.2 earthquake on the Richter scale. This, together with the cyclones, makes the country live in constant reconstruction. Eight killed in 2018 by extreme phenomena – 0.9 per 100,000 inhabitants – losses of almost 120 million dollars and a reduction in GDP per capita of 1.14% is the balance offered by the study.