A report released by the National Intelligence Council in the US has named India, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the list of 11 countries that are highly vulnerable in their capacities to adequately respond to the environmental and societal crises resulting due to climate change.
Besides India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the list includes countries such as Myanmar, Iraq, North Korea, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Colombia. These 11 countries have been termed as “countries of concern” in light of their inadequate planning and infrastructure to battle the ramifications of the climate crisis.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, in the report, has also predicted that the threat to US’ national security will be heightened in the next decades due to the geopolitical tensions arising from the hurdles that global warming presents.
Predicting the reason for concern that surrounds these countries, the report attributes the situation of heat, drought and inefficient government in Afghanistan as a marker of worry. Meanwhile, in India and other regions of South Asia where the countries are facing acute water shortage, disputes related to water will become a cause for growing geopolitical standoffs.
The report also sheds light on the role of China and India in determining the course of climate change over the next years as global temperatures rise due to the rapid expansion of industries and population in the countries. Currently, China and India are the world’s fourth and fifth largest emitters of greenhouse gasses. Both the countries are increasing their overall and per capita emissions, the report stated.
On the other hand, the US and the European Union, which have been the second and third largest emitters of greenhouse gasses contributing to global warming, are taking measures to reduce their emissions.
The report published by the US National Intelligence Council ahead of the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow also pointed out that climate change will likely increase the political, geological and social instability in Central Africa and small island nations in the Pacific, making the regions some of the most endangered areas around the globe.
