Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025: Global and India’s Performance

The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025 highlights the impact of extreme weather events globally. During 1993-2022 India held the ranking of 6th most affected country but rose to 49th place in 2022. Germanwatch has published CRI annually since 2006 to evaluate climate-induced disaster losses to develop global policy recommendations. The assessment methodology includes counting human casualties together with population numbers hit by disasters as well as economic damage and overall extreme weather occurrences. Dominica, China, and Honduras maintained the status of most affected countries during 1993-2022 but Pakistan followed by Belize and Italy emerged as the most impacted during 2022. During the past thirty years, India faced more than 400 extreme events resulting in the deaths of 80,000 people while sustaining losses amounting to $180 billion. India achieved better results in its disaster management and climate resilience programs since its previous vulnerable state.

Overview: 

• The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025 highlights the increasing impact of extreme weather events worldwide.

• During the period (1993-2022) India occupied the sixth spot among most affected countries yet achieved a better rank of forty-nine for 2022.

About the Climate Risk Index (CRI)

What stands as the main function of the Climate Risk Index?

• The rankings of countries conducted by CRI represent their susceptibility to extreme weather conditions.

• The evaluation determines human casualties along with economic damage stemming from disasters influenced by climate change.

Published by & Frequency

• The environmental research organization Germanwatch released this publication.

• The organization publishes the Annual Report annually since 2006 while providing thirty years of historical data.

Aim of CRI

• Extensive weather event implications receive evaluation through comparative analysis.

• The index serves as a tool for steering international climate guidelines as well as risk reduction strategies.

• The analysis focuses on identifying affected regions while strengthening attention towards climate resilience measures.

CRI Methodology and Criteria

The CRI ranking is based on:

• High numbers of deaths originated from climate disaster events and those occurring in unrelated ways.

• The affected population consists of those injured as well as those displaced and those facing any direct consequences.

• Economic Losses – Infrastructure, agriculture, and GDP losses.

• The number of severe weather events evaluated floods in combination with storms and heatwaves and droughts together with wildfires.

• Long-Term Impact (1993-2022) and Short-Term Impact (2022) analysis.

Key Findings from CRI 2025

• Most Affected Countries (1993-2022):

  • The three countries facing the maximum impact from climate disasters are Dominica followed by China then Honduras.

  • The country achieved place 6 together with Myanmar, Italy, and Vanuatu among the top ten nations.

• Most Affected Countries in 2022:

  • Weather-related disasters had their greatest impact on Pakistan followed by Belize and then Italy.

  • The primary environmental triggers behind these events involve heat waves together with storms that also produce flooding conditions.

• Top Disasters by Impact (1993-2022):

  • The economic impact of storms created 35% of all costs which amounted to approximately $2.33 trillion during that period.

  • Heatwaves (30%) led to significant fatalities.

  • Floods (27%) affected the largest population.

India’s Performance in CRI

• Long-Term Ranking (1993-2022):

  • The sixth position as the worst-affected nation globally belonged to India.

  • A total of more than 400 severe weather-related incidents have occurred since the start of thirty years.

  • 80,000+ deaths and $180 billion in economic losses due to climate disasters.

• Short-Term Ranking (2022):

  • The country improved its short-term position by ranking at 49th spot compared to its 7th place ranking in 2019.

Conclusion

The CRI 2025 report establishes that vulnerable nations like India require immediate measures to build climate adaptation strategies. Extreme weather events continue to pose significant threats to India even though the country has experienced short-term progress. The vital steps include enhancing disaster preparedness alongside developing climate resilience and sustainable policies to reduce future perils.