Bangkok was ranked the third most vulnerable city in the world to climate change in a recent report from risk consultancy Maplecroft.
The most at risk city, according to the 5th annual Climate Change and Environmental Risk Atlas, was found to Dhaka, Bangladesh followed by Manila, Philippines.
The Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), a cornerstone of the report, found seven cities – all in Asia – to be at extreme risk from changing temperatures and weather systems:
1. Dhaka, Bangladesh
2. Manila, Philippines
3. Bangkok, Thailand
4. Yangon, Burma
5. Jakarta, Indonesia
6. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
7. Kolkata, India
“Extreme risk’” cities may see an increase in catastrophic weather events like the flooding in Yangon in 2008, Bangkok in 2011, and Manila in 2012, Maplecroft said. Long-term changes in temperature and rainfall patterns could have devastating effects on ecosystems, human health, industrial processes, supply chains and infrastructure.
The CCVI evaluates exposure to climate related natural hazards; the sensitivity of populations; development; natural resources; agricultural dependency; research and development; government effectiveness and education levels.
With strong economic growth of above 5% forecast for countries such as the Philippines, Viet Nam, Indonesia and India in the next few years, the relevance of climate change to populations and business in the major commercial centers should not be underplayed, Maplecroft in its analysis.
“As global corporations expand into the emerging growth markets, their operations and supply chains will become exposed to a complex set of climate risks that have the potential to disrupt business continuity,” said Maplecroft’s Head of Maps and Indices, Helen Hodge. “It is essential for companies to identify where suppliers, assets and personnel are most at risk and plan for the long term.”
The vulnerability of cities in the growth economies stems not only from their exposure to climate related hazards, but also the sensitivity of their populations and the poor capacity of governments to support local adaptation measures to combat the potential effects of climate change. Maplecroft said it been measuring these factors for all countries over three years, but there has been little discernible improvement in the host nations of the ‘extreme risk’ cities suggesting countries are slow to make progress in combating the oncoming effects of climate change. Disaster risk reduction programs, more stringent building regulations, better education and improved communications networks are therefore essential to secure the future stability of these cities.
