40 million Indians at risk from rising sea levels: UNEP

Highlights of Global Environmental Outlook Report:

According to the UN environment report over 40 million people in India will be put at risk from rising sea levels by 2050.

• The Report points out Mumbai and Kolkata having the maximum exposure to coastal flooding in future due to rapid urbanisation and economic growth.
• Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines,are expected to have storm surge with a combined total of over 58 million people at risk by 2050.
• The report also emphasized that global urban populations are projected to scale up by 5 billion by 2050, with nearly 90 per cent of the increase in Asia and Africa.

Countries in Asia will face Risk:

Seven of the 10 most vulnerable countries worldwide are in the Asia Pacific region.

Exposure to Coastal Flooding:

It warned that by 2070 the following cities projected to have coastal flooding in 2070 due to their fixed location.

United Nations Environment Programme:

• Formation: 1972
• Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
• Head: Germany Achim Steiner.