Climate Vulnerability Index Elaboration based on Research work done in US and in India

Dr. Weihsueh Chiu, a professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, partnered with Environmental Defense Fund to create a new tool that provides communities and policymakers with actionable data about long-term vulnerabilities tied to climate change is the most comprehensive screening tool of its type, showing how, why, and where climate risks threaten the stability of communities throughout the U.S. The CVI combines 184 sets of publicly available data to rank more than 70,000 U.S. census tracts. The data used can be grouped into seven broad domains — including health, infrastructure, and extreme events — which can then be broken down into sub-domains addressing specific issues. First, the data indicator sets at the smallest most detailed level were combined, then these were combined into the seven domains, and, finally, we combined those into the overall vulnerability index,” as per Dr. Chiu. The CVI also allows users to search by location to view their overall climate vulnerability and the conditions that shape it — from quality of housing and access to supermarkets to proximity to toxic waste sites and number of deaths from air pollution.

The broad objective of the work being done is to build toward climate justice and also how to visualize climate Injustice across the United States. With support from many partners, Environmental Defense Fund and Texas A&M University developed the most thorough and complete compilation of climate impacts at the census-tract level, both historical and projected, direct and indirect – integrating the impacts with environmental, health, infrastructure, and socioeconomic metrics.

The most vulnerable counties were found to be:
1) John the Baptist, Louisiana,
2) Iberville, Louisiana
3) Knox, Kentucky
4) Landry, Louisiana
5) Dillon, South Carolina
6) Tangipahoa, Louisiana
7) Acadia, Louisiana
8) Floyd, Kentucky
9) Jefferson, Texas
10) Whitley, Kentucky

A CVI in the US context, combines baseline vulnerabilities that reduce community resilience, health, social and economic, infrastructure, environment; and, climate change risks. The CVI equips and enables policymakers — and the advocates, community-based organizations, journalists, and academic researchers who hold them accountable — to use data to direct resources and action to areas of greatest need.

In the Indian context, the Council on Engineering Environment and Water (CEEW) has done a pioneering effort to assess the climate vulnerability across Indian districts. They have used a comprehensive and integrated framework. Abhinash Mohanty and Shreya Wadhawan of CEEW have published a report to Map India’s Climate Vulnerability at the District level. The Study published by them has mapped, exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity using an analysis approach called spatio-temporal analysis. In order to do this, they have developed a Climate variability Index (CVI) of Indian States and Union territories. CVI will help map critical vulnerabilities, plan strategies to enhance resilience, and adapt by climate-proofing, communities, economies and infrastructures. A holistic approach will help in the aim to inform policy goals in the resource-constrained context of India.

The study indicated that Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are the top three climate vulnerable states in India. It was found that 17 out of 20 people in India are vulnerable to extreme hydro-met disasters like the recent Glacial lake outburst flood in North Sikkim, after the South Lonak lake outburst. 27 out of 35 Indian States and Union Territories are extremely vulnerable to Hydro-met disasters. Hydro-met are disasters caused by rain, lakes, flood plain inundation, etc. Floods, Draughts and Cyclones have been considered for exposure assessment. Draught Sensitivity Analysis was done. A Quantitative indicator – based adaptive capacity index was developed for the analysis. Hazard and exposure cause the Risk. It is necessary to do a vulnerability assessment. District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) assessment was done based on the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) guidelines. A Vulnerability Equation was used to derive the vulnerability Index. The Vulnerability function considers Exposure, Sensitivity and Adaptive Capacity.

Among the Districts, it was found that Dhemaji, Khammam, Gajapati, Vizianagaram and Sangli are the 5 most vulnerable districts of India. It was found that 80% of the Indian Population is vulnerable to extreme hydro-met disasters. Finally, recommendations to build a climate resilient India were given like developing a Climate Risk Atlas, setting up a Climate Risk Commission, Integration of CVI-based financing instruments into investment decision making, etc.

References:

‘Climate Vulnerability Index’ Shows Where Action, Resources Are Needed To Address Climate Change Threats

About

Abinash Mohanty and Shreya Wadhawan, “Mapping India’s Clmate vulnerability – A District level assessment”, CEEW (The Council), & India Climate Collaborative and EdelGive Foundation