NEW DELHI: Although global organisations and environmental think tanks routinely rate India on various climate and pollution indicators, the government prefers to rely on its own assessments for policy decisions. The environment ministry clarified this position in written replies to two separate questions in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Addressing a query on the latest Global Climate Risk Index—which placed India ninth among the countries most impacted by extreme weather events—the ministry stated that the government “does not recognise any external ranking as a basis for domestic policy formulation.”
The Global Climate Risk Index, published annually by Germanwatch, uses six indicators, including fatalities and economic losses from extreme weather. Its latest report, released last month, found that India suffered over 80,000 deaths and nearly $170 billion in losses across 430 severe weather events between 1995 and 2024.
However, the ministry noted that while many estimates exist, isolating the climate-related share of these losses “remains a challenge.”
Similarly, responding to a question about India’s position in the IQAir World Air Quality Ranking, the WHO Global Air Quality Database, and other global lists, the ministry dismissed these rankings, stating that “worldwide ranking of cities for pollution levels is not being conducted by an official authority.” It added that WHO air quality guidelines serve only as reference points, while countries set their own standards based on geography, environmental conditions, background pollution levels, socio-economic factors, and national circumstances.
The ministry also highlighted that it carries out its own annual assessment—Swachh Vayu Survekshan—and recognises high-performing cities on National Clean Air Day (September 7).
