From the Maplecroft.NET Limited media release Climate change risk list highlights vulnerable nations and safe havens on 3 September 2009:Norway, Finland, Japan, Canada and New Zealand are the countries best placed to weather the effects of climate change, while Africa hosts 22 of 28 “extreme risk” countries, according to the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), released today by global risks consultancy, Maplecroft.
The CCVI is part of Maplecroft’s new Climate Change Risk Report 2009/10. It rates 166 countries on their capacity to mitigate risks to society and the business environment posed by changing patterns in natural hazards, such as droughts, flooding, storms and sea level rises and the resulting effects on ecosystems.
Unlike other studies, the index does not attempt to predict changes to patterns of natural hazards or ecosystems as a result of climate change, but instead measures how vulnerable a country is now and how well prepared it is to combat the impacts of climate change.
Norway, (166), is the lowest ranked country in the CCVI and best equipped to address the challenges of climate change. Among the factors contributing to its ranking are its low population density, excellent health-care and communications systems, good governance and a strong institutional framework. Additionally, Norway’s overall food, water and energy security are high and its ecosystems are well protected.
The countries least at risk after Norway are Finland (165), Japan (164), Canada (163) and New Zealand (162). Other low risk countries include UK (155), USA (152) and Germany (151).
Japan’s ranking relates to its institutional stability, strong economy and high net primary productivity. However, 10% of Japan’s population live in Tokyo (5,847 people per km2 in 2007) and as Japan’s population increases, so too will the stress on surrounding natural resources and the land, making it vitally important that Japan addresses its climate change vulnerabilities.
Poorer nations, particularly those located in Sub-Saharan and West Africa, with few natural resources and limited infrastructures are rated as particularly vulnerable by the CCVI. Somalia (1), Haiti (2), Afghanistan (3), Sierra Leone (4) and Burundi (5) are rated most at risk, while other extreme risk countries include Nepal (11), Bangladesh (12), Sri Lanka (25) and Cambodia (27).
Somalia’s ability to adapt to climate change is severely undermined by food insecurity, conflict and political violence and human rights risk, whereas in Haiti, declining water quality and the rising risk of food and energy insecurity all contribute to its very poor rating.
India (56) is the only emerging economy to be rated as high risk.This is due to high population density, increased security risk, poor resource security and concerns about human rights violations. India’s vulnerability is of particular concern to business because of its huge role in global supply chains.
Other countries of concern include Pakistan (29), Philippines (44) and Indonesia (61), which all rated high risk, whilst Brazil (103) and China (110) are categorized as medium risk, with Russia (127) rated as low risk.
The full report is available at a price, however The Sydney Morning Herald article on 11 September stated that this report ranked Australia at 33 out of 135 on its unsustainable energy index and 156 out of 166 on its vulnerability to climate change index.
Australia was also said to have been recorded with a per capita energy consumption of 20.58 tonnes per year compared with a U.S. per capita consumption of 19.78 tonnes per year.
While the Maplecroft report assessed Australia's current vulnerability, a month earlier the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (setup and partially funded by government) released another report Hardening Australia: Climate change and national disaster resilience which factored in future increases in climate change and infrastructure impacts and can be accessed at Download PDF .
This report warns that climate change may be a homeland security issue.
Ahead of the G20 2009 Pittsburgh summit, yesterday E3G and the Australian Climate Institute released the G20 Low Carbon Competitiveness Report, which placed Australia on the lower rungs (fifth from the bottom on the index) when it came to carbon competitiveness but nearer the top when it came to low carbon improvement although the rate of improvement was considered too slow.
Australia's poor showing is primarily due to our dependency on carbon intensive production for income, including carbon intensive exports, high levels of car ownership, high transport fuel consumption and carbon intensive electricity production.
It is one of the three countries mentioned as requiring the largest turnarounds in carbon productivity.
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