Risk mapping specialist Maplecroft has published a report to help decision makers in business, government and international organisations assess climate change risks in different countries.
Liz Betser, principal consultant – corporate responsibility at Maplecroft, said the work did not take into account the impact of projected changes in climate. “It is about how well-equipped countries, and areas within countries, are to deal with such changes,” she said.
However, she added: “The report can give information at regional, country or sub-national country level on where it is likely to be difficult to carry out forest operations in the future as a result of climate change in terms of logistics, natural and human resources.”
The index takes into account factors of climate change vulnerability from six groups: economy; natural resources and ecosystems; poverty, development and health; agriculture; population, settlement and infrastructure; and institutions, governance and social capital.
The report reveals that the highest levels of climate change vulnerability are in middle and eastern Africa and southern Asia. Countries with the lowest levels are predominantly in the developed world.
