Study: Finland among Countries Least at Risk from Climate Change
Nordic countries are least at risk from climate change, according to a study by British consultancy Maplecroft. Finland is the second least vulnerable country after Norway. Following Finland are Iceland, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark. In fact, northern European countries are initially set to gain from climate change due to longer crop growing seasons.
The most at risk on the list of 171 nations are Bangladesh and India. The list found parts of Asia and Africa to be the most vulnerable to climate change over the next 30 years. Poverty and low-lying coastal regions were factors contributing to Bangladesh’s top position, whereas India’s growing population pressures made it the second most vulnerable country. India was followed by Nepal, Mozambique, the Philippines, Haiti, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Myanmar. The ranking took into account exposure to factors such as droughts, cyclones and mudslides, poverty, internal conflicts and dependence on agriculture.
Maplecroft Consultancy drew up the list in order to aid companies in their investment decisions. “Understanding climate vulnerability will help companies make their investments more resilient to unexpected change,” said Matthew Bunce, a principal analyst at Maplecroft.
