The climate is changing for everyone, but some countries are more at risk than others, while some are already ready to face the challenges that global warming has in store for them. Here is the complete ranking.
The climate change is a threat to the entire global population. However, some countries are more vulnerable than others, while some are already prepared to face the challenges ahead posed by extreme weather events and global warming. The ND-Gain index, created in 1995 as a project of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States, ranks them from the most prepared country (100) to the most exposed (0).
The index is based on six risk factors: food, water, health, ecosystem services, human habitat and infrastructure. The top three positions are occupied by Norway, New Zealand and Sweden, followed by Finland and Denmark.
Italy sits in 30th place, ahead of Lithuania and behind Portugal. This is a favourable position, as it places the country among those with a low level of vulnerability and a good degree of preparedness. Even so, Italy will have to face numerous challenges in adapting to climate change, chief among them rising sea levels.
At the bottom of the ranking there are only African countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Eritrea. Chad closes the ranking. The countries most at risk are, in fact, developing nations, despite being the least responsible for CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Beyond sub-Saharan African countries, the most vulnerable regions are South-East Asia and Central America.
