India Improves Rank in Global Climate Risk Index 2025

• India has shown measurable progress in climate resilience, improving its position in the Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025 released by Germanwatch . The report, presented during the UN Climate Summit (COP30) in Belem, Brazil, ranked India 9th in the long-term index (1995–2024) and 15th in the 2024 annual index , marking an improvement from last year’s 8th and 10th positions respectively.

India’s Progress and Key Findings

• According to the CRI 2025, India has recorded over 80,000 fatalities and economic losses exceeding USD 170 billion from 430 extreme weather events in the past three decades. Despite this, the nation’s improved ranking reflects strengthened climate adaptation policies, better early warning systems, and disaster preparedness. A lower rank in the CRI indicates reduced vulnerability and improved resilience to climate-related disasters.

Global Context of the CRI 2025

• Globally, 9,700 extreme weather events between 1995 and 2024 caused over 832,000 deaths and losses of USD 4.5 trillion . Countries such as Dominica, Myanmar, and Honduras were the most affected over the long term, while St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Chad topped the 2024 annual list. The report also highlighted that over 40% of the world’s population , nearly three billion people, live in nations highly exposed to climate risks — including India and China.

India’s Climate Response

• India’s past experiences with disasters like Cyclones Hudhud (2014) and Amphan (2020) , the Uttarakhand floods (2013) , and recurring heatwaves have informed its climate resilience strategy. Initiatives such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) , State Action Plans , and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) have bolstered India’s preparedness and recovery capacity.

Exam Pointers

• India’s rank: 9th (long-term 1995–2024), 15th (2024 annual)

• Report by: Germanwatch, released at COP30 (Belem, Brazil)

• Economic loss: USD 170 billion over 30 years

• Fatalities: Over 80,000

• Most affected countries: Dominica, Myanmar, Honduras

The Road Ahead

India’s improved ranking underscores tangible progress in climate resilience but also signals the urgency for sustained investments in mitigation, adaptation, and green infrastructure . Experts note that expanding renewable energy, building climate-smart cities, and protecting vulnerable communities will be essential to sustain this progress and strengthen India’s leadership in global climate action.