Climate Risk Index (CRI) Report
Context:
The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026 report was published by Germanwatch.
It was released at the ongoing COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil.
Germanwatch is a Bonn-based environmental and development organisation
Global Findings (1995-2024)
The report finds that between 1995 and 2024, over 9,700 extreme weather events occurred globally
These events caused the deaths of more than 832,000 people and resulted in economic losses exceeding $4.5 trillion (inflation-adjusted)
Heatwaves and storms posed the greatest threat to human life (each accounting for 33% of fatalities)
Storms caused the greatest monetary damage (58% of economic losses)
Floods were responsible for the greatest number of people affected
The report notes that 8 of the 10 most affected countries in 2024 are in low- or lower-middle-income groups.
India's Ranking and Impact
Long-term Index (1995-2024):
India ranks ninth among the countries most affected by extreme weather during this period.
This is an improvement from its eighth-place ranking in the 2023 report
Annual Index (for 2024):
India's rank for the previous year improved from 10th to 15th
India recorded 80,000 fatalities in the last 30 years, accounting for nearly 9.6% of the global total
The country faced 430 extreme weather events, inflicting economic losses of nearly $170 billion
The report cites major disasters such as the 1999 Odisha cyclone, the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, and Cyclone Amphan in 2020.