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Vulnerability to Climate change
Courtesy: http://maplecroft.com/about/news/ccvi.html
A new global ranking, calculating the vulnerability of 170 countries to the impacts of climate change over the next 30 years, identifies some of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, including India, as facing the greatest risks to their populations, ecosystems and business environments.
The index rates 16 countries as ‘extreme risk,’ including nations that represent new Asian economic power and possess significant forecasted growth. Bangladesh (1), India (2), Philippines (6), Vietnam (13) and Pakistan (16) all feature in the highest risk category and are of particular importance as they are major contributors to the ongoing global economic recovery and are vital to the future expansion of Western businesses in particular.
Throughout 2010, changes in weather patterns have resulted in a series of devastating natural disasters, especially in South Asia, where heavy floods in Pakistan affected more than 20 million people (over 10% of the total population) and killed more than 1,700 people. “There is growing evidence climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of climatic events,” said Environmental Analyst at Maplecroft, Dr Anna Moss. “Very minor changes to temperature can have major impacts on the human environment, including changes to water availability and crop productivity, the loss of land due to sea level rise and the spread of disease.”
Maplecroft rates Bangladesh as the country most at risk due to extreme levels of poverty and a high dependency on agriculture, whilst its government has the lowest capacity of all countries to adapt to predicted changes in the climate. In addition, Bangladesh has a high risk of drought and the highest risk of flooding. This is illustrated during October 2010, when 500,000 people were driven from their homes by flood waters created by storms. However, despite the country’s plethora of problems, the Bangladesh economy grew 88% between 2000 and 2008 and is forecast to by the IMF to grow 5.4% over 2010 and up to 6.2% over the next five years.
India, ranked 2nd, is already one of the world’s power brokers, but climate vulnerability could still adversely affect the country’s appeal as a destination for foreign investment in coming decades. Vulnerability to climate-related events was seen in the build up to the Commonwealth Games, where heavy rains affected the progress of construction of the stadium and athletes’ village. Almost the whole of India has a high or extreme degree of sensitivity to climate change, due to acute population pressure and a consequential strain on natural resources. This is compounded by a high degree of poverty, poor general health and the agricultural dependency of much of the populace.
The index rates 16 countries as ‘extreme risk,’ including nations that represent new Asian economic power and possess significant forecasted growth. Bangladesh (1), India (2), Philippines (6), Vietnam (13) and Pakistan (16) all feature in the highest risk category and are of particular importance as they are major contributors to the ongoing global economic recovery and are vital to the future expansion of Western businesses in particular.
Throughout 2010, changes in weather patterns have resulted in a series of devastating natural disasters, especially in South Asia, where heavy floods in Pakistan affected more than 20 million people (over 10% of the total population) and killed more than 1,700 people. “There is growing evidence climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of climatic events,” said Environmental Analyst at Maplecroft, Dr Anna Moss. “Very minor changes to temperature can have major impacts on the human environment, including changes to water availability and crop productivity, the loss of land due to sea level rise and the spread of disease.”
Maplecroft rates Bangladesh as the country most at risk due to extreme levels of poverty and a high dependency on agriculture, whilst its government has the lowest capacity of all countries to adapt to predicted changes in the climate. In addition, Bangladesh has a high risk of drought and the highest risk of flooding. This is illustrated during October 2010, when 500,000 people were driven from their homes by flood waters created by storms. However, despite the country’s plethora of problems, the Bangladesh economy grew 88% between 2000 and 2008 and is forecast to by the IMF to grow 5.4% over 2010 and up to 6.2% over the next five years.
India, ranked 2nd, is already one of the world’s power brokers, but climate vulnerability could still adversely affect the country’s appeal as a destination for foreign investment in coming decades. Vulnerability to climate-related events was seen in the build up to the Commonwealth Games, where heavy rains affected the progress of construction of the stadium and athletes’ village. Almost the whole of India has a high or extreme degree of sensitivity to climate change, due to acute population pressure and a consequential strain on natural resources. This is compounded by a high degree of poverty, poor general health and the agricultural dependency of much of the populace.
IPCC Frequently Asked Questions & Answers on Climate Change :
- What factors determine the earth’s climate? answer here
- What is the relationship between climate change and weather? answer here
- What is the greenhouse effect? answer here
- Has there been a change in extreme events like heat waves, droughts, floods and hurricanes? answer here
- Is the amount of snow and ice on earth decreasing? answer here
- Is sea level rising? answer here
- Is the current climate change unusual compared to earlier changes in earth’s history? answer here
- Are the increases in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases during the Industrial Era caused by human activities? answer here
- Can the warming of the 20th century be explained by natural variability? answer here
- Are extreme events, like heat waves, droughts or floods, expected to change as the earth’s climate changes? answer here
Global Temperature Increase and Extreme Weather
Source : http://www.thisisclimatechange.org/global-temperature-increase-and-extreme-weather/
The average global surface temperature is increasing, as reported by NOAA, NASA, and leading international institutions such as the UK Met Office. Worldwide surface temperature changes are not uniform (some areas have experienced cooling), but on average, the global surfacetemperature has increased by about 1.5°F since 1900.
For the United States as a whole, the average temperature has increased by more than 2°F over the past 50 years. The Midwest and northern Great Plains have experienced higher than average winter temperature increases of more than 7°F.
Heat is a form of energy, and higher temperatures may contribute to the severity of weather events; also, warmer air can hold more water vapor (a greenhouse gas) that can result in increased precipitation. In the spring of 2011, the United States experienced unprecedented tornadoes, flooding, drought and wildfires. According to NOAA, “While similar extremes have occurred throughout modern American history, never before have they occurred in a single month.” Although it is impossible to link one weather event to climate change, there is a clear trendof increasing severe weather.
Global Observations:
For the United States as a whole, the average temperature has increased by more than 2°F over the past 50 years. The Midwest and northern Great Plains have experienced higher than average winter temperature increases of more than 7°F.
Heat is a form of energy, and higher temperatures may contribute to the severity of weather events; also, warmer air can hold more water vapor (a greenhouse gas) that can result in increased precipitation. In the spring of 2011, the United States experienced unprecedented tornadoes, flooding, drought and wildfires. According to NOAA, “While similar extremes have occurred throughout modern American history, never before have they occurred in a single month.” Although it is impossible to link one weather event to climate change, there is a clear trendof increasing severe weather.
Global Observations:
- January to July 2010: The hottest period on record. The year 2010 tied with 2005 as the warmest years since record keeping began in 1880. NOAA marked 2010 as the 34th consecutive year with an average global temperature above the 20th century average. Independent research by NASA and the UK Met Office Hadley Centre support these observations.
- June 2010: NOAA reports that June 2010 was the fourth consecutive month that was the warmest on record, and the 304th consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th century average, since record keeping began in 1880.
- Summer 2010: Russia and much of Eastern Europe experience the worst heat wave in 130 years. Temperatures in Moscow reach 38.2°C (100.8°F) resulting in numerous deaths and wildfires. Preliminary estimates for Russia indicate about 55,000 heat related deaths, 25% annual crop loss, more than 1 million hectares (about 2.5 million acres) of burned areas, and an economic loss of US$ 15 billion.
- August 2010: A block of ice over 100 square miles in surface area (four times the size of Manhattan) breaks off from the Greenland’s Petermann Glacier. This is the largest ice island to break off in the Arctic since 1962.