BERLIN — Việt Nam is one of the six countries most heavily impacted by extreme weather phenomena in the past decade, according to a report released by Germanwatch – a German environmental organisation.

The Global Climate Risk Index 2020 (CRI) report announced at the ongoing 25th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Madrid, Spain, Việt Nam has worsened from 9th spot in the CRI 2019, which reviewed 1998 to 2017, to 6th in 2018 on the global vulnerability ladder.

Over the last two decades, Việt Nam reported 226 extreme weather events, killing on average 285.80 people per year and causing annual economic losses of US$2 billion per year, the report said.

Puerto Rico remains at the top of the list, while Myanmar and Haiti make up the top three. They are followed by the Philippines, Pakistan and Việt Nam.

Climate risk map. — Photo courtesy of GermanWatch

The Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index is an analysis based on one of the most reliable data sets available on the impacts of extreme weather events and associated socio-economic data. The Germanwatch Climate Risk Index 2020 is the 15th edition of the report. Its aim is to contextualise ongoing climate policy debates – especially international climate negotiations – looking at real-world impacts over the last year and last 20 years. — VNS