Impact of Inaction on Climate Change
Over the last 30 years, climate inaction has resulted in severe consequences for a significant portion of the global population. Extreme weather events such as heat waves, storms, and floods have profoundly affected over 3 billion people, approximately 40% of the world's population, across 11 countries, including India.
Climate Risk Index 2026
The index, developed by Germanwatch, identifies the scale of impact from extreme weather over the past decades:
- 9,300 Extreme Weather Events: Recorded globally between 1995 and 2024.
- 830,000 Fatalities: Resulting from these events.
- $4.5 Trillion in Damages: Economic losses adjusted for inflation.
Country-Specific Impacts
- Most Affected Countries: Dominica, Myanmar, and Honduras.
- India's Ranking: Ninth most affected, with nearly 430 extreme weather events affecting 1.3 billion people, leading to 80,000 fatalities and $170 billion in economic losses.
- Other Affected Nations: Haiti and the Philippines, both consistently face challenges due to regular floods, heat waves, and storms, which hinder recovery efforts.
It is noteworthy that none of the ten most-affected countries belong to the high-income group, highlighting the disproportionate effect on lower-income nations.
Call to Action
The 2026 edition of the Climate Risk Index emphasizes the urgent need to enhance efforts to close the emission gap and mitigate further climate-induced threats.
