Quick Overview:
The Germanwatch Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026 ranks India 9th among countries most affected by extreme weather events over the past three decades, highlighting rising climate vulnerability. Key threats include floods, heatwaves, glacier melt, and rising sea levels, posing risks to water security, biodiversity, coastal regions, and socio-economic stability. Urgent mitigation and adaptation strategies are needed, including water management, coastal resilience, decarbonization, and sustainable governance.
Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026: India’s Vulnerability to Extreme Weather
Why in News:
The Germanwatch CRI 2026, presented at COP30 in Brazil, ranks India 9th among countries most impacted by extreme weather events (EWEs) from 1995–2024.
About CRI:
Published annually since 2006 by Germanwatch.
Measures human and economic losses due to EWEs like floods, storms, heatwaves, and glacial lake outbursts.
Sources: EM-DAT, World Bank, IMF.
Key Findings:
Global Impact: 9,700 EWEs caused 832,000+ deaths and USD 4.5 trillion losses globally.
India: 430 EWEs caused USD 170 billion losses, affected 1 billion people, and 80,000+ deaths over 30 years. India ranked 3rd globally in 2024 for the number of people affected.
Extreme Events in 2024: Floods (8 million affected in India), heatwaves, droughts.
Impacts on India:
Water Crisis: Himalayan glacier retreat, declining groundwater (~4 cm/year in Gangetic aquifers), arsenic contamination.
Mountain Ecosystems: Increased disasters (GLOFs, cloudbursts), accelerated ice melt due to black carbon.
Coastal Areas: Sea-level rise (~3.6 mm/year globally, 4.44 cm in Mumbai), salinization, mangrove and coral reef degradation.
Socio-Economic Costs: GDP loss (6.4–10% by 2100), agricultural distress, heat stress in urban areas.
Recommended Measures:
Climate Mitigation: Limit warming to 1.5°C, secure USD 300 billion for adaptation.
Water Security: Update National Water Policy 2012, promote climate-resilient farming, revive traditional water systems.
Coastal Resilience: Restore mangroves/coral reefs, early-warning systems, social safety nets.
Decarbonization: Increase renewable energy (>500 GW by 2030), green hydrogen, battery storage.
Governance & Community Action: Mainstream climate adaptation, participatory models like Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, boost green R&D.
Conclusion:
CRI 2026 underscores India’s high climate vulnerability, necessitating immediate adaptation and mitigation strategies to safeguard water, ecosystems, coasts, and socio-economic development.
THE OPUS WAY Main Question:
Examine the threats posed by global warming to India's Himalayan and coastal ecosystems. Suggest sustainable measures for building resilience in these regions.
CLAT / UPSC Exam Relevance Summary:
CLAT: Environmental law, climate policy, human impact on ecosystems, disaster management legal frameworks, coastal regulation.
UPSC: GS Paper 3 – Environment & Ecology, Disaster Management, Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Water & Coastal Resource Management.