Global Climate Risk Index (CRI)

1️⃣ What is the Global Climate Risk Index?

The Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) measures the extent to which countries are affected by extreme weather events.

It looks at the impact of:

• Floods
• Cyclones
• Heat waves
• Storms
• Other climate-related disasters

Important:

It measures vulnerability and impact, not environmental performance.

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2️⃣ Who Publishes It?

Published by:

Germanwatch

Germanwatch is a German environmental think tank.

Prelims trap:

It is NOT published by

❌ UNEP
❌ UNFCCC
❌ World Bank
❌ IPCC

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3️⃣ What Does It Measure?

The index evaluates the impact of extreme weather events using indicators such as:

• Number of deaths due to extreme weather
• Economic losses
• Losses relative to GDP
• Number of affected people

UPSC may ask which of these indicators are included.

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4️⃣ India’s Latest Rank

📌 Global Climate Risk Index 2021 (latest comprehensive ranking)

India ranked 7th among countries most affected by extreme weather events during the period studied.

Important:

Higher rank here means more affected by climate disasters.

This is opposite to many other indices.

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5️⃣ Important Concept

CRI does not measure future risk.

It measures past impacts of extreme weather events.

UPSC may test this distinction.

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6️⃣ Difference: CRI vs Environmental Performance Index

Climate Risk Index:

Measures impact of climate disasters.

Environmental Performance Index:

Measures environmental policy and ecosystem health.

UPSC may frame elimination question based on this.

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7️⃣ Static Linkage

Relevant topics:

• Climate change adaptation
• Disaster management
• Extreme weather events
• National Disaster Management Authority

It often appears in environment + disaster management context.

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8️⃣ Common Prelims Traps

• Confusing publisher (Germanwatch vs UN).

• Thinking it measures climate policy performance.

• Mixing it with EPI.

• Forgetting it measures past disaster impacts.

• Misinterpreting rank direction.

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9️⃣ Likely Question Patterns

• Which organisation publishes Climate Risk Index?
• What does CRI measure?
• Which indicators are used?
• What does a higher CRI rank indicate?

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🔁 Quick Recall Box

✔ Published by: Germanwatch
✔ India rank: 7th most affected (CRI 2021)
✔ Measures impact of extreme weather events
✔ Based on deaths and economic losses

✔ Higher rank = more vulnerable/affected