Extreme weather changes hit India

India is among the top 10 countries most affected by extreme weather changes linked to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2010, released in Copenhagen on Tuesday. See graphics

India is among the top 10 countries most affected by extreme weather changes linked to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2010, released in Copenhagen on Tuesday.

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Global carbon emissions have increased by about 18 per cent since 1990, the base year for emission reductions, leading to an increase in frequency of weather-related climatic disturbances.

According to the index released by NGO Germanwatch, 3,255 people in India died annually because of extreme weather changes. India’s eastern neighbour Bangladesh has been ranked the most vulnerable on the index of 190 countries and West Asian countries among the least vulnerable to weather changes.

India has witnessed 325 “extreme weather” events in the last 18 years, the report released said, urging rich countries to take deeper emission cuts.

“The data clearly shows that the poorest people are most vulnerable to climate change,” said Saleemul Haq, director of the London-based NGO International Institute for Environment and Development.