10 countries at risk of climate disaster

Climate change is causing new humanitarian crises and accelerating existing ones in vulnerable communities around the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are needed to prevent the world from experiencing a rise in global temperature and the catastrophic consequences that follow.

“The world’s most vulnerable populations are already on the frontline of the climate crisis,” explains IRC CEO and President, David Miliband. “To curtail the worst climate and extreme weather disasters, major-emitting nations must take drastic actions to rein in emissions.”

The countries on this list all have something in common – despite contributing little to greenhouse gas emissions, they are especially vulnerable to the effects of global warming. They also all feature on the IRC’s Watchlist as countries most likely to experience a humanitarian crisis in 2023.

Find out which 10 countries researchers have identified as at risk of climate disaster

How do we know what countries are at risk of climate disaster?

To find out which countries are most at risk from climate disasters, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the World Resource Institute (WRI) analysed where climate crises are likely to occur and whether affected countries have the capacity to respond and protect vulnerable communities.

Countries with low levels of climate readiness and high levels of fragility are most at risk of climate disaster. 

Climate readiness is measured by examining the threats that climate change poses to a country and that country’s ability to protect its citizens from, and build resilience to, climate disasters. Meanwhile, fragility is the likelihood that a country will collapse and become unable to govern or provide services to its citizens.

The catastrophic consequences of climate change are already here as more frequent and intense natural disasters and extreme weather destroy livelihoods, intensify violent conflict, and force people to flee their homes. The following is a list of 10 countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, despite having contributed little to its cause. Collectively, these countries contribute just 0.28% of global CO2 emissions while making up 5.16% of the world’s population.

10 countries at risk of climate disaster

Somalia

Climate change has had a devastating impact on Somalia, worsening challenges of drought and extreme food insecurity. The country’s political instability has made it difficult to address its climate crisis and protect vulnerable communities. By mid-2023, more than an estimated eight million Somalis – nearly half of the country’s population – will be experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity, or worse.

“I’ve left home because of the drought,” says Bistra*, who now lives in the Torotorow camp for internally displaced people. “I’ve spent a year here in the camp. Water and food are scarce.”

Photo: Martha Tadesse for the IRC

Syria

Over a decade of war in Syria has eroded the country’s ability to respond to crises. The conflict and an intense economic crisis have forced 90% of Syrians below the poverty line. Extreme drought and the February 2023 earthquake near the Syrian-Turkish border, which affected hundreds of thousands of Syrians, have highlighted the challenges associated with responding to emergencies in a country facing high fragility.

The earthquake near the Syrian-Turkish border impacted communities where many people had resettled after being previously displaced. High state fragility has led to difficulties in delivering aid to affected communities.

Photo: Valerio Muscella for the IRC

The Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing persistent conflict, economic challenges and disease outbreaks. Over 100 armed groups fight for control in eastern Congo, often targeting civilians. Major disease outbreaks–including measles, malaria and Ebola– pose an ever present threat to a weakened health care system, putting many lives at risk.

These factors have weakened the country’s ability to prepare the country for climate disasters and disrupted humanitarian support while citizens face floods and rising food insecurity.

Afghanistan

Since the Taliban became Afghanistan’s de facto authorities in 2021, the country has experienced growing fragility as a breakdown in foreign aid flows and an economic collapse deepen poverty. Now, Afghanistan has entered its third year of drought while intense flooding in some parts of the country has diminished food production and driven people from their homes.

Riaz takes her 2-year-old grandson, Mazhda, to a mobile health clinic where he is screened for signs of malnutrition. Almost 23 million Afghans – more than half of the country’s population – are facing acute food insecurity.

Photo: Oriane Zerah for the IRC/ECHO

Yemen

Years of conflict have driven an economic crisis and high levels of fragility in Yemen. By the end of 2022, 17 million people in Yemen required food assistance, while 1.3 million pregnant or breastfeeding women and 2.2 million children required treatment for malnutrition. Climate change has worsened desertification and drought in the country.

Chad

Chad ranks as the world’s most climate-vulnerable country on the Notre Dame-Global Adaptation Initiative Index, which examines a country's exposure, sensitivity and capacity to adapt to the negative effects of climate change. Flooding in late 2022 affected more than 1 million people in the country while an economic crisis has led to widespread food insecurity. Growing conflict and tensions related to the country’s Transitional Military Council have limited progress in building climate resilience.

South Sudan

South Sudan, a country with high fragility and low climate readiness, is increasingly vulnerable to climate disasters. While the civil war that rocked the country officially ended in 2018, local conflicts remain widespread. Better climate resiliency is needed to protect South Sudanese citizens from climate shocks, like the severe floods which affected over 900,000 people in late 2022.

Abuk holds four-year-old Nyirou outside their flooded home in Northern Bahr El Ghazal, South Sudan. After Nyirou was treated for malnutrition at an IRC health clinic, Abuk explained, “Even if someone cultivates something, the crops may grow but are then destroyed.”

Photo: Adrienne Surprenant for the IRC

Central African Republic

Competition for control over political power and natural resources has destabilised the Central African Republic (CAR). Severe flooding threatens the safety and health of CAR residents, particularly those living in camps for internally displaced people, by contributing to the spread of water-borne illnesses like cholera. Other diseases like malaria, meningitis and monkeypox also strain CAR’s weakened health system.

Nigeria

Flooding in late 2022 affected 2.5 million people in Nigeria and caused extensive damage to the country’s farmland. By mid-2023 an estimated 25 million Nigerians will face high levels of food insecurity. Political tensions and widespread conflict have contributed to the country’s fragility, making it difficult to respond to climate disasters.

Ethiopia

Drought is affecting more than 24 million Ethiopians. This number is expected to rise as the country is set to enter its sixth consecutive failed rainy season. Numerous conflicts across the region and political instability have disrupted humanitarian support in the country and made it difficult for authorities to address the impacts of climate change on Ethiopia.

“For the past years we haven’t had any rain,” says Fose, a 40-year-old herder from Elele District, Ethiopia. “I had 200 goats and 30 camels, but today what I have is 30 goats and one camel.”

Photo: Martha Tadesse for the IRC

A case study of conflict and climate change: the Central Sahel

One region in Africa, the Central Sahel, demonstrates how conflict and climate change can combine to create a vicious cycle that drives humanitarian needs. Consisting of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the Central Sahel is highly vulnerable to climate change and has a legacy of political instability.  

About 78% of the region’s population relies on the agricultural sector for work and are heavily impacted by increasing temperatures and climate shocks. Long-term political decisions and conflict have further weakened communities’ ability to adapt to climate change.

In the Central Sahel, temperatures are rising 1.5 times faster than the rest of the world and are projected to increase by 35.6 to 39.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2°C — 4.3°C) by 2080.

Niger loses between 100,000 to 120,000 hectares of arable land to soil erosion and desertification annually. Parts of central Niger experience temperatures of 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 °C) and above for more than 300 days a year. This reduces the number of areas available to farmers and herders and has contributed to increased conflict in the country.

Similar patterns across the region have fueled an unprecedented food insecurity crisis. In Burkina Faso alone, 2.2 million people are facing crisis levels of food insecurity. More than 20,000 people in the country’s northeast face daily risk of death from starvation and disease.

Like most humanitarian crises, women and girls are the most vulnerable to climate change in the Central Sahel. A lack of access to water during drought seasons forces women and girls to travel farther to collect water and firewood, exposing them to greater risks of sexual exploitation and gender-based violence.

IRC staff in Mali have reported more frequent sexual violence against women and girls during periods of drought.

An IRC report has indicated that political marginalization and economic underdevelopment are driving a compounded and unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Central Sahel.

Fandaou* holds her daughter, Yakaka, at their home in Niger. The compound humanitarian crisis in the Central Sahel has increased rates of food insecurity, having a pronounced impact on children, like Yakaka.

Photo: Mamadou Diop for the IRC

How does the IRC address climate vulnerability?

The IRC supports each of the countries featured on this list, which are among the more than 40 crisis-affected countries where we work around the world. Building climate resiliency and supporting vulnerable communities in the face of climate crises is a central part of our work. 

The IRC works with communities in vulnerable regions to increase preparation and resiliency by mapping climate hazards and developing early warning systems. We also support local efforts to manage natural resources, conserve water and train people in developing sustainable livelihoods.

We advocate for policy changes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen the impacts of climate change on the world’s vulnerable communities. We also conduct research on climate change and are committed to using evidence-based solutions to build climate resilience. 

We have also developed and adopted a climate action plan for our own organization and have made a commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.