Global Climate Risk Index 2018
Who Suffers Most From Extreme Weather Events? Weather-related Loss Events in 2016 and 1997 to 2016
Published on 9. November 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
36 pages
978-3-943704-60-0 (ISBN)
Description
The Global Climate Risk Index 2018 analyses to what extent countries have been affected by
the impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, floods, heat waves etc.). The most recent
data available - for 2016 and from 1997 to 2016 - were taken into account.
The countries affected most in 2016 were Haiti, Zimbabwe as well as Fiji. For the period from
1997 to 2016 Honduras, Haiti and Myanmar rank highest.
This year's 13th edition of the analysis reconfirms earlier results of the Climate Risk Index: less
developed countries are generally more affected than industrialised countries. Regarding
future climate change, the Climate Risk Index may serve as a red flag for already existing
vulnerability that may further increase in regions where extreme events will become more
frequent or more severe due to climate change. While some vulnerable developing countries
are frequently hit by extreme events, for others such disasters are a rare occurrence.
It remains to be seen how much progress the Fijian climate summit in Bonn will make to
address these challenges: The COP23 aims to continue the development of the 'rule-book'
needed for implementing the Paris Agreement, including the global adaptation goal and
adaptation communication guidelines. A new 5-year-work plan of the Warsaw International
Mechanism on Loss and Damage is to be adopted by the COP. It remains an open question
how loss and damage should be taken up under the Paris Agreement.
the impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, floods, heat waves etc.). The most recent
data available - for 2016 and from 1997 to 2016 - were taken into account.
The countries affected most in 2016 were Haiti, Zimbabwe as well as Fiji. For the period from
1997 to 2016 Honduras, Haiti and Myanmar rank highest.
This year's 13th edition of the analysis reconfirms earlier results of the Climate Risk Index: less
developed countries are generally more affected than industrialised countries. Regarding
future climate change, the Climate Risk Index may serve as a red flag for already existing
vulnerability that may further increase in regions where extreme events will become more
frequent or more severe due to climate change. While some vulnerable developing countries
are frequently hit by extreme events, for others such disasters are a rare occurrence.
It remains to be seen how much progress the Fijian climate summit in Bonn will make to
address these challenges: The COP23 aims to continue the development of the 'rule-book'
needed for implementing the Paris Agreement, including the global adaptation goal and
adaptation communication guidelines. A new 5-year-work plan of the Warsaw International
Mechanism on Loss and Damage is to be adopted by the COP. It remains an open question
how loss and damage should be taken up under the Paris Agreement.