08 September 2009

New Zealand passes climate change test

LONDON - Norway, Finland, Japan, Canada and New Zealand are the countries best placed to weather the effects of climate change, while Africa hosts 22 of 28 Ã¢â¬Åâœextreme riskÃ¢â¬~ countries, according to the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), released by global risks consultancy, Maplecroft.

The CCVI is part of MaplecroftÃ¢â¬â¢s new Climate Change Risk Report 2009/10.

It rates 166 countries on their capacity to mitigate risks to society and the business environment posed by changing patterns in natural hazards, such as droughts, flooding, storms and sea level rises and the resulting effects on ecosystems.

Unlike other studies, the index does not attempt to predict changes to patterns of natural hazards or ecosystems as a result of climate change, but instead measures how vulnerable a country is now and how well prepared it is to combat the impacts of climate change.

Norway (166) is the lowest ranked country in the CCVI and best equipped to address the challenges of climate change.

Among the factors contributing to its ranking are its low population density, excellent health-care and communications systems, good governance and a strong institutional framework.

Additionally, NorwayÃ¢â¬â¢s overall food, water and energy security are high and its ecosystems are well protected.

The countries least at risk after Norway are Finland (165), Japan (164), Canada (163) and New Zealand (162).

Poorer nations, particularly those located in Sub-Saharan and West Africa, with few natural resources and limited infrastructures are rated as particularly vulnerable by the CCVI.

Somalia (1), Haiti (2), Afghanistan (3), Sierra Leone (4) and Burundi (5) are rated most at risk, while other extreme risk countries include Nepal (11), Bangladesh (12), Sri Lanka (25) and Cambodia (27).

India (56) is the only emerging economy to be rated as high risk. This is due to high population density, increased security risk, poor resource security and concerns about human rights violations.

Other countries of concern include Pakistan (29), Philippines (44) and Indonesia (61), which all rated high risk, whilst Brazil (103) and China (110) are categorized as medium risk.

The three other aspects of climate change which are analysed include: CO2 emissions from energy use, CO2 emissions from land use and unsustainable energy use.

In the CO 2 emissions from energy use index Australia is ranked highest (1), followed by the USA (2) and Canada (3).

China is ranked 44, based on its historical emissions and lower per capita emissions of 4.58 tonnes CO2 annum, as opposed to 20.58 tonnes CO2 per capita in Australia.

Maplecroft designed the index to enable governments, international organisations and the private sector to identify increased financial and societal risks arising from vulnerability to climate change.

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