China was the most affected in the region in terms of economic losses and fatalities, spending US$1.32 trillion in response to climate harms and recording 42,000 deaths since 1993, found a report released on Wednesday by the Climate Risk Index (CRI).
This was followed by Myanmar, which lost US$20.6 billion, but had “exceptionally high absolute and relative numbers of fatalities” of 140,000 from Cyclone Nargis in 2008, a one-off event that brought floods and torrential rains.
Typhoon and flood-prone India and the Philippines have experienced some of the strongest impacts from extreme weather because of recurring climate-induced events over the last three decades.
More than 400 floods, heatwaves and cyclones have caused losses of nearly US$600 billion in India, along with 80,000 fatalities.
The Philippines, known as the most climate-vulnerable country in Southeast Asia due to its geographical location, has suffered US$70 billion in losses, including from Typhoon Haiyan, which was one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded, killing more than 7,000 people and destroying over a million homes.
“Climate science clearly shows that climate change increases the risk for both countries affected by highly unusual extreme events as well as those affected by recurring extreme events. They contribute to transforming uncommonly extreme events into continual threats, creating a ‘new normal’,” read the study.
However, David Eckstein, co-author of the CRI report, noted how climate adaptation and disaster risk management can successfully reduce risks like locally-led adaptation measures being carried out in Bangladesh, cutting its cyclone-related mortality more than 100 fold in the last 40 years. The South Asian nation was last part of the CRI list in 2020.
“The example of Bangladesh shows how important adaptation measures are and the huge impact they can have to avert or mitigate adverse effects. This requires financial support from the international community but also efforts from the countries themselves to identify vulnerable communities and develop risk management strategies,” said Eckstein.
Although not part of the index, Pakistan was the lone Asian nation cited as one of the worst hit by floods, landslides, and storms in 2022 alone. The downpour that summer submerged one third of the country, affecting 33 million people, half of whom were children, with more than 1,700 fatalities and more than US$53 billion in economic losses. That same year, a heatwave claimed more than 90 lives.
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Even if industrialised countries are among the highest-ranked countries, developing countries are much more existentially affected, as they often lack the technical and financial means to cope.
David Eckstein, senior advisor of climate finance and investments, Germanwatch
Meanwhile, hurricane-prone Dominica in the Caribbean islands topped the ranking of countries that experienced the most extreme weather impacts in the past 30 years. The island averages a damaging storm every two years, with Hurricane Maria in 2017 being exceptionally severe, causing damages of up to US$10.6 billion based on purchasing power parities among countries.
Rich countries not exempt from nature’s wrath
High-income countries have become part of the CRI list of countries most affected by extreme weather.
Italy and Spain ranked fifth and eighth, respectively, in the global index due to severe heatwaves and floods in the past three decades.
The last time a developed a nation was last part of the survey was when the United States endured a series of tornadoes, record-breaking high temperatures and an intense hurricane season, including Hurricane Irene in August 2011.
Japan, Germany, Canada were included in the list in 2018 due to heavy rainfall, heatwaves, extreme cold, flooding and wildfires.
“In principle all countries can be affected by extreme weather events, no matter if wealthy or poor. Examples of extraordinary, unprecedented events show that many countries are not yet prepared for these events in terms of comprehensive risk management,” said Eckstein, also a senior advisor of climate finance and investments at Germanwatch.
“There is little focus on prevention and preparedness, which leads to greater impacts. Nevertheless, even if industrialised countries are among the highest-ranked countries, developing countries are much more existentially affected, as they often lack the technical and financial means to cope,” he added.