Explained: What is the climate vulnerability index released by CEEW?

What is the news?

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) has released its first-of-its-kind district-level climate vulnerability assessment or Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI). The index has analyzed 640 districts in India and found that 463 of these are vulnerable to extreme floods, droughts and cyclones etc.

What are the key findings of the Climate Vulnerability Index?

There are 183 hotspot districts that are highly vulnerable to more than one extreme climate event. Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Bihar are most vulnerable to extreme climate events such as floods, droughts and cyclones in India.

North-eastern states are more vulnerable to floods

South and Central Indian states are most vulnerable to extreme droughts.

59% and 41% of the total districts in the eastern and western states, respectively, are highly vulnerable to extreme cyclone

“Unsustainable landscape and infrastructure changes’’ are the prime reasons for vulnerability to climate risks

Which states are most and least vulnerable?

The CVI has ranked 20 states out of which Assam and Andhra Pradesh are the most vulnerable to extreme weather events, and Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal are the least vulnerable.

Kerala and West Bengal have performed well because they have stepped up their climate action plans and preparedness to handle an extreme weather events.

What are the recommendations that have been made?

Develop a high-resolution Climate Risk Atlas (CRA) to map critical vulnerabilities at the district level.

Establish a centralised climate-risk commission to coordinate the environmental de-risking mission.

Undertake climate-sensitivity-led landscape restoration focused on rehabilitating, restoring, and reintegrating natural ecosystems as part of the developmental process.

Source: This post is based on the article “Explained: What is the climate vulnerability index released by CEEW?” published in the Indian Express on 28th October 2021.