Nearly one-third of the world's economy by 2025 will be in countries at the greatest risk climate change, says risk consultancy Maplecroft, highlighting the global impact of countries vulnerable to climate change.
Its latest annual Climate Change and Risk Atlas is based on Maplecroft's Climate Change Vulnerability Index, which considered a nation's exposure to extreme weather events over the next 30 years alongside its capacity to cope with the impact. The Atlas shows that Asian growth economies will be exposed to spiralling environmental risks over the coming decades – the emerging ecomoinies are the most at risk. In all nearly a third of global output – around $44 trillion - will be from countries classified as most at risk from climate change.
India, Vietnam, Indonesia and China are among the emerging economies most expected to feel the economic impact of climate change. Of the top 50 cities of current and future importance to global business, Dhaka, Manila, Bangkok, Yangon, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City and Kolkata are all at ‘extreme’ climate change risk. Several developed world cities, including Osaka and Sydney are also vulnerable.
Achieving more sustainable water and energy use are highlighted for governments of emerging economies, and the report also notes that pressure on food supplies will also affect both people and ecosystems.
The growing interdependence and vulnerability of a global economy highlights that climate change affects us all – even those in areas expecting relatively mild direct climate impacts. This raises self-interest to countries and people across the world to find global solutions to climate change.
And our economic and business partnerships can also provide routes to global practical action for climate mitigation.