Natural disasters need to be tackled
The past few decades have witnessed an increase in climate disasters and India too has not remained untouched to this phenomenon. Experts and studies have pointed out that climate change is proving to be a big driver behind these alterations.
We have become used to witness hotter oceans besides a warmer atmosphere cranks up the intensity of cyclones, floods, droughts and heat waves. Even scientific studies cited in the recent Germanwatch report confirm that global warming is making these events more frequent and severe in India.
Presently, India ranks ninth globally among countries most impacted by climate disasters over the past three decades, with nearly 430 extreme weather events killing more than 80,000 people during this phase.
Recently, the Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026, released by the environment think tank Germanwatch at COP30 in Belem, Brazil said that climate disasters affected 1.3 billion people and caused economic losses worth almost USD 170 billion from 1995 to 2024.
The report said the losses stemmed largely from repeated floods, cyclones, droughts and heat waves that have intensified with global warming.
In India events such as the 1998 Gujarat cyclone, the 1999 Odisha super cyclone, the 2013 Uttarakhand floods and recent deadly heat waves are among those that contributed to the country’s high ranking on the index. The report said India’s situation represents a continuous threat rather than isolated disasters, as recurring weather extremes have steadily eroded development gains and undermined livelihoods.
Notably, India’s vast population and high exposure to monsoon variability make it particularly vulnerable, with extreme events often affecting millions each year. In 2024 alone, India was hit by heavy monsoon rains and flash floods that impacted more than eight million people, especially in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tripura.
The floods and storms were the most damaging events globally last year, accounting for nearly half of all people affected and inflicting billions in losses.
Globally, Germanwatch report said more than 9,700 extreme weather events between 1995 and 2024 claimed over 8.3 lakh lives, affected nearly 5.7 billion people and caused direct economic damage of around USD 4.5 trillion.
Ironically, developing countries remained disproportionately affected due to lower coping capacity and limited resources for adaptation. While El Niño conditions influenced weather patterns in 2024, human-induced climate change played a decisive role in intensifying heat waves, storms and floods worldwide.
Scientific studies cited in the report found that climate change made many of these events more likely and more severe, including prolonged spells of dangerous heat that affected billions.
What is posing a huge danger is that such frequent disasters are becoming the new normal for many developing nations, including India, demanding urgent and well-funded adaptation measures.
Since the recurrence of disasters is proving to be a regular phenomenon the developing nations need to strengthen early warning systems so as to improve weather forecasting and ensure rapid dissemination to locals using new communication tools.
Besides, thrust should be put on creating climate resilient infrastructure like flood barriers, cyclone shelters, and earthquake-resistant structures so that human loses are minimised.
