Recent data reveals that India has suffered significantly from weather-related disasters, accounting for 54 million out of the 82.1 million people affected in South Asia between 2019 and 2023. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), citing data from the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), India incurred over $56 billion in damages during this period. This figure represents the majority of the $59.2 billion in damages across South Asia and nearly a quarter of the $230 billion in damages across the Asia Pacific region.
The report highlights that India also accounted for 10,000 of the 11,995 weather-related deaths in South Asia, making up over two-fifths of the 23,525 deaths in the Asia Pacific region. The Central and West Asian regions recorded the second-highest death toll at 4,723 during this period.
ADB’s climate envoy, Warren Evans, emphasized the increasing risks posed by climate change and noted that the bank is working with developing countries to mitigate and manage these risks. Evans highlighted ADB’s efforts to strengthen the capacity of communities and financial systems to address these challenges.
India has been proactive in addressing climate change, setting ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The country updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in August 2022, after achieving its 2015 commitments ahead of schedule. By 2023, India had surpassed its target of having 40% of its installed power capacity from non-fossil fuels, reaching 43%. India also reduced the carbon intensity of its economy by 33% between 2005 and 2019.
Despite these efforts, India maintains that its historical contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is minimal, accounting for only a fraction of global emissions despite having 17% of the world’s population. The country continues to advocate for equitable climate action based on principles of justice and shared responsibilities.
Source:
Livemint.com
India Bears the Brunt of Climate Disasters in South Asia
