Which Countries Are More Vulnerable to Climate Change

This episode of the Climate Emergency Forum focuses on the crucial question of which countries are most vulnerable to climate change and what actions can be taken to reduce their risks. The discussion draws on multiple global indices—such as the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative, German Watch Climate Risk Index, Oxfam’s Climate Vulnerability Analysis, and the Columbia Climate School’s Vulnerability Index—to highlight how climate risk and financial vulnerability intersect. Expert panelists examine not only which nations are most at risk but also explore the critical importance of a country’s capacity to cope with and recover from climate shocks.

This video was recorded on August 20th, 2025, and published on September 21st, 2025, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

Paul Beckwith explains how the Columbia Climate School’s dashboard visually maps out climate risk and financial vulnerability across 188 countries, identifying a “red zone” where both risks are highest. Many of these most vulnerable nations are in Africa, where even moderate climate hazards are magnified by political instability and lack of resources. In contrast, Scandinavian countries, with their robust governance and strong public health systems, are ranked as most resilient, though Paul cautions that catastrophic global changes—such as a shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)—would dramatically alter these rankings.

The dialogue emphasizes that vulnerability is not just an issue for the global south; wealthy countries are not immune, as highlighted by mounting disasters even in developed nations. The show concludes by stressing the urgency of climate action and support for the world’s most vulnerable, and by sharing several recent climate-related news stories, including failed plastic treaty negotiations and the mounting health risks posed by extreme heat waves. The overarching message: everyone is increasingly vulnerable in our rapidly changing world, and the climate emergency is intensifying.

Links:

• Support Our Mission

• Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative Country Index

• German Watch Climate Risk Index

• State of the Planet

• Climate Finance Vulnerability Index

• Hurricane Helene - Untold Death and Destruction (CEF Video)

• Climate Change Attribution

• Climate Attribution (CEF Video)

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

• Pakistan’s Pluvial Plight (CEF Video)

• Plastic Planet - Climate Chaos (CEF Video)

• Temperature-related neonatal deaths attributed to climate change in 29 low- and middle income families

• It’s so hot in Mexico that howler monkeys are falling dead from the trees

Regular Panelists:

• Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

• Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: crowander.com

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions