India ranks seventh most vulnerable country to climate change: Economic Survey

India is the seventh most vulnerable country to climate change, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25. It has highlighted the country’s susceptibility to extreme weather events and slow onset events such as rising sea-level rise, biodiversity loss, and water insecurity.

The survey focused on the role of the notable increase in the frequency of extreme weather conditions, particularly heatwaves. On average, during 2022-2024, India experienced heatwaves on 18 percent of days compared to 5 percent of days in 2020 and 2021.

In the wake of these ongoing challenges, vulnerable developing countries like India have to bear the brunt of the disproportionate burden of historical climate change, with a few resources for adaptation and mitigation. 

The Survey stated ‘developing countries such as India need to undertake climate adaptation on an urgent footing as this has a direct impact on lives, livelihoods and the economy'. Implementing effective adaptation strategies will necessitate a multi-faceted approach that includes policy initiatives, sector-specific strategies, development of resilient infrastructure, research and development, and securing financial resources for adaptation efforts.’

There has been an increase in the country’s adaptation expenditures from 3.7 percent to 5.6 percent of GDP between FY16 and FY22, reflecting the prominence of adaptation and resilience building in the development strategy.

Climate change-led extreme weather events exacerbated supply chain disruptions and reduced harvest of some food items, resulting in food inflation. The survey highlighted that the total crop area damaged in 2024 was higher compared to the last two years due to extreme weather events.

According to the survey, adaptation strategies for agriculture are focussing more on research and development of climate-resilient seeds, measures to preserve and enhance groundwater resources, improve soil health, and modify cropping practices, among other measures.

The Economic Survey raised concerns about the $300 billion annual finance target set for climate adaptation by 2035, terming it ‘out of sync and a fraction’ of the estimated requirement of USD 5.1 - 6.8 trillion by 2030.

Ensuing its critical ambition of low carbon growth, India aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. However, the goal will require innovative strategies and robust implementation plans to tackle climate challenges, while prioritizing sustainable development.