Mapping India’s Climate Vulnerability-District Level Assessment” was published by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water. The report also published the first climate vulnerability index of this kind. The Index analysed 640 districts in India and found out that 463 of them were at risk of droughts, extreme floods and cyclones.
Highlights
The report emphasized that 27 Indian union territories and states within the coalition are vulnerable to extreme weather events, which often drive out weaker communities and disrupt the local economy. The report found that of the 640 countries analysed, 463 were at risk at risk of droughts, extreme floods and cyclones.
Most Climate Vulnerable States of India
Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Bihar and Maharashtra are the most vulnerable to various extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and cyclones.
Most Vulnerable Districts of India
Khammam in Telangana, Nagaon and Dhemaji in Assam, Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, Gajapati in Odisha, Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Sangli in Maharashtra are the most vulnerable districts.
Other Findings
The states of north-eastern India are vulnerable to floods, and the states of southern and central India are the most vulnerable to extreme droughts. In addition to Tripura, West Bengal being a coastal state, is the third least vulnerable with the state of Kerala being the least vulnerable to cyclone and flooding.
Major Concerns
Over 80% of Indians live in areas under threat of climate risk. 17 out of 20 people in are at risk of climate risk, of which 1 in 5 Indians live in highly vulnerable areas. Over 45% of these districts are experiencing unsustainable changes in infrastructure and landscape. The 183 hotspot areas are very likely to experience multiple various types of extreme climatic events. Over 60% of the districts have moderate to low adaptability to deal with extreme weather events. Only 63% of the Indian district has a disaster management plan.
Reasons for Climate Vulnerability
Multiple extreme climatic events are very likely to occur in the 183 hotspot areas. Most parts of India are particularly vulnerable to landscape turbulence such as over-construction, loss of forest cover and destruction of other natural ecosystems as well as wetlands.
