Climate Risk Index 2026 Released

Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026 Highlights

Key Data and Statistics:

• Human Impact (1995-2024):

  • Death toll: 832,000 people.
  • Number of people affected: 5.7 billion.
  • Economic losses: Over $4.5 trillion (inflation-adjusted) from 9,700+ extreme weather events.

• India's Climate Impact:

  • Rank: 9th among the most affected countries.
  • Extreme weather events: 430 recorded since 1995.
  • Fatalities: Over 80,000.
  • People affected: 1.3 billion.
  • Economic losses: Nearly $170 billion.
  • Major disasters cited include:
    • 1998 Gujarat cyclone
    • 1999 Odisha cyclone
    • 2013 Uttarakhand floods
    • 2019 severe floods in Maharashtra and Tripura
    • 2020 Cyclone Amphan

Key Findings on Extreme Weather:

• Types of Weather Events:

  • Heatwaves and storms each accounted for 33% of fatalities in the past 30 years.
  • Floods accounted for 25% of fatalities.
  • Economic losses due to storms: 58% of total losses, equating to approximately $2.64 trillion.
  • Floods caused about $1.31 trillion in economic losses and affected nearly half of all impacted globally.

• Historical Context:

  • Recent climate events exacerbated by climate change include recurrent heatwaves, particularly in northern and central India, with temperatures nearing 50°C.

International Context and Legal Framework:

• International Court of Justice: Issued a landmark opinion earlier this year recognizing a binding legal obligation for nations to prevent and respond to climate change-related harm.
• World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2025: Ranks extreme weather as the second greatest global risk, following armed conflict.

Recommendations for COP30:

• Call for a roadmap to:
  • Close the global ambition gap.
  • Operationalize the Global Goal on Adaptation.
  • Ensure adequate financial support for vulnerable nations.
• Urge decisive steps to implement solutions for loss and damage related to climate change.

Systemic Inequities:

• None of the top ten countries most affected by climate events are high-income nations.
• Eight of the ten most affected in 2024 are classified in low- or lower-middle-income groups.

Conclusion:

The CRI 2026 report underscores the urgent need for global action against the escalating climate crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact on low-income nations and the critical requirement for increased climate adaptation funding and implementation of effective solutions.