Very high disaster risk for America and Asia; Germany no longer considered low risk
Berlin, September 8, 2022 – The global hotspots for disaster risk from natural hazards are located in the Americas and Asia. This is shown by the 2022 World Risk Index, published today by the Alliance Development Works and the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum (IFHV) as part of the 2022 World Risk Report. The index, published annually since 2011, has been completely revised conceptually and methodologically for the 2022 edition. The World Risk Index calculates the disaster risk for 193 countries, representing 99 percent of the world's population. The Philippines, India, and Indonesia have the highest risk, followed by Colombia and Mexico. Germany ranks 101st globally, placing it in the middle of the pack – and thus no longer in the lowest of the five risk categories, as in the past. "Floods, heat waves, and droughts are increasing dramatically, and climate change is also having a massive impact on risk assessment," the report states. For a country's risk of an extreme natural event turning into a catastrophe, its exposure to natural and climate-related events forms the first part of the equation. The second part is the so-called vulnerability of society. This vulnerability is the directly controllable factor of the risk," explains Peter Mucke, Managing Director of the Alliance Development Helps and Project Manager of the 2022 World Risk Report, which focuses on "Digitalization." "Thanks to the availability of new data, the new World Risk Index paints a more precise and differentiated picture of risk. Digitalization provides important foundations for prevention. Digital data and systems expand the range of possibilities for authorities and aid organizations in the event of a disaster."
“The World Risk Index now comprises 100 indicators instead of the previous 27. In particular, the inclusion of indicators on the impact of disasters and conflicts on populations over the past five years, as well as on refugees, displaced persons, and asylum seekers, results in a significantly more accurate representation of the realities of life in many countries – especially in light of large-scale global migration movements,” explains Daniel Weller of the IFHV. “Furthermore, the <em>exposure</em> component has been considerably expanded: While the previous World Risk Index considered earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, droughts, and sea-level rise, tsunamis are now included, and a distinction is made between coastal and river flooding.” (Further changes to the calculation of the World Risk Index are presented in the factsheet linked below.)
Notes to editors:
- An overview of the conceptual and methodological innovations in the calculation of the World Risk Index, as well as further questions and answers, can be found in this factsheet: https://weltrisikobericht.de/download/2909/
- Infographics and maps (also in print-ready resolution) as well as an embargoed version of the report including the key findings on the focus topic of digitalization can be requested from us at presse@remove-this.entwicklung-hilft.de
- The full report can be downloaded from www.WeltRisikoBericht.de
- We would be happy to arrange interviews with the experts of the World Risk Report 2022 for you.
<em>Bread for the World, Christoffel Blind Mission, DAHW, Kindernothilfe, medico international, Misereor, Plan International, terre des hommes , Welthungerhilfe and the associated members German Doctors and Oxfam, as the alliance Development Helps, provide acute and long-term aid in disasters and crisis areas.</em>
<em>The Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum is one of Europe's leading academic institutions in research, teaching, and humanitarian crises. The Institute combines interdisciplinary research from the fields of public law, social sciences, geosciences, and public health.</em>