The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026 was released by Germanwatch.
India ranks ninth among countries most affected by extreme weather events between 1995 and 2024.
The index analyses rapid-onset events like floods, storms, heatwaves, wildfires, and glacial lake outbursts, but excludes slow-onset events like sea-level rise or glacial retreat.
In the last 30 years, India faced around 430 extreme weather events, affecting over 1 billion people, causing $170 billion in inflation-adjusted losses, and more than 80,000 deaths.
In 2024 alone, the monsoon affected over 8 million people in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tripura.
India ranked third globally for people impacted by extreme weather.
India, along with the Philippines, Nicaragua, and Haiti, falls under the “continuous threats” category.
This means it faces repeated extreme weather events with cumulative losses over time.
Global extreme weather between 1995–2024 caused over 8,32,000 deaths and economic losses exceeding $4.5 trillion.
This highlights the urgent need for adaptation and climate finance support at COP30.