UN Environment report has indicated how many Indians will be at risk from rising sea levels by 2050?

a. 40 million

b. 50 million

c. 60 million

d. 70 million

ANSWER: 40 million

Explanation:

Close to 40 million Indians will be at risk from rising sea levels by 2050 with people in Mumbai and Kolkata having maximal exposure to coastal flooding on account of rapid urbanisation and economic growth, according to a UN report

The UN report entitled Global Environmental Outlook GEO-6 indicates worst impacts of climate change are projected to occur in the Pacific and South and SE Asia

Focusing on the population at risk from sea level rise by 2050, seven of the 10 most vulnerable countries worldwide are in the Asia Pacific region.

India tops the chart with nearly 40 million people in the country projected to be at risk from rising sea levels followed by 25 million in Bangladesh, 20 million in China and 15 million in Philippines.

Changes in settlement patterns, urbanisation and SES in Asia have influenced observed trends in vulnerability and exposure to climate extremes

The UN report has listed Mumbai and Kolkata in India, Guangzhou and Shanghai in China, Yangon in Myanmar, Dhaka in Bangladesh and Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong in Vietnam to have the largest population exposure to coastal flooding in 2070