Asia at risk of losing annual $8.5tn from climate change

China and India to be hit hardest; need for infrastructure investment grows

Studies show that global warming is increasing water vapor in the atmosphere, which increases precipitation in certain places. (Source photo from Japan Meteorological Agency)

KENJI ASADA and GRACE LI, Nikkei staff writers

December 5, 2020 17:04 JST

TOKYO/HONG KONG -- The growing number of natural disasters resulting from climate change is becoming a threat to Asian economies.

Nikkei Asia analyzed data from the non-profit organization World Resources Institute and found that in 2030, the economic output of places around the world that face riverine flood risk would be $17 trillion. Asia accounts for around half of this, at $8.5 trillion, with Asian countries like China and India particularly vulnerable to flooding.