Climate Change Vulnerability Around the World, Part 1 of a Multi-part Series

The World Bank projects that more than 216 million people may be forced to leave their homes due to rising sea levels, flooding, desertification, and other consequences of increasing global temperatures. The Institute for Economics and Peace estimates this figure could rise to as many as 1.2 billion. Several East African countries have been significantly impacted by heavy rainfall due to seasonal monsoons from March to May 2024. More than 1.6 million people have been affected, and at least 410,000 individuals have been displaced.

In April and May 2024, severe flooding in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul affected approximately 2.1 million people. According to the State Civil Defense Agency, at least 176 fatalities have been reported, with 200,000 homes damaged or destroyed and 600,000 individuals displaced. From north to south, all regions of Brazil are suffering from severe heat, storms, fires, or droughts. Between June and July 2024, the affected area expanded from 5.96 million to 7.04 million square kilometers, covering 83% of Brazil’s territory.

Climate-induced migration is a global crisis. According to a report by the First Street Foundation, approximately 3.2 million Americans have relocated due to the growing risk of flooding. By September 2024, the United States has experienced 20 weather and climate disaster events, each causing over $1 billion in damages. The wildfires ravaged western Canada just a year after a record-breaking number of wildfires in 2023 compelled more than 235,000 people across Canada to evacuate. The research indicates that many regions across the continent are facing more frequent and intense weather extremes. These shifting patterns can contribute to severe climate disasters.