India Among 11 'Countries Of Concern' On Climate Change, Says First-Ever US Intelligence Report

A report on climate change by the US intelligence agencies has said that Afghanistan, India and Pakistan were among 11 countries that are "highly vulnerable" in terms of their ability to prepare for and respond to environmental and societal crises caused by climate change.

The National Intelligence Estimate, the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) predicts that global warming will increase geopolitical tensions.

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What the report said

The first-of-its-kind report said that worsening climate change requires the United States to do much more to track and protect refugees fleeing natural disasters.

The climate migration assessments urge the creation of a task force to coordinate US management of climate change and migration across government, from climate scientists to aid and security officials.

National intelligence estimates are benchmark documents created by US intelligence agencies that are intended to inform decision-making and analysis across the government.

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The estimate found a warming planet could increase geopolitical tensions particularly as poorer countries grapple with droughts, rising seas and other effects, while they wait for richer, higher-polluting countries to change their behavior. Climate change will ¡°increasingly exacerbate risks to U.S. national security interests,¡± according to the estimate.

11 countries of concern

The estimate identified 11 countries of particular concern: Afghanistan, Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iraq, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, and Pakistan. It also lists two regions of concern: Central Africa and small island states in the Pacific Ocean.

The report also said that India and China will determine the trajectory of temperature rise.

¡°China and India will play critical roles in determining the trajectory of temperature rise,¡± said the report released by the National Intelligence Council ahead of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.

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Both the countries are growing their total and per capita emissions. On the other hand, the United States and the European Union (EU), as the second-and third-largest emitters, are reducing their emissions.

¡°Both China and India are incorporating more renewable and low-carbon energy sources, but several factors will limit their displacement of coal," the report said.

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¡°They need to modernise their grids, have sunk costs that make it relatively cheaper to use coal compared with other energy sources, want to minimise reliance on fuel imports for national security reasons and are trying to appease domestic constituencies who rely on the coal industry for jobs,¡± it added.

¡°India almost certainly will increase its emissions as it develops economically. Indian officials have not committed to a net-zero target date and have instead called on countries with larger economies to reduce emissions,¡± the report said.

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