The CVI aims to provide a clearer understanding of which communities are under threat from escalating climate-related risks.
The United States Climate Vulnerability Index (also known as the CVI) was published by the Environmental Defence Fund on October 2, 2023. More than 70,000 census tracts in the United States have been categorised using this cutting-edge method, which combines 184 distinct types of data that are readily available to the public in order to identify the places that are most at risk from climate-related risks such as drought and smoke from wildfires.
According to Dr. Grace Tee Lewis, Senior Health Scientist at the Environmental Defence Fund, "the Biden Administration has made a historic level of funding available to build towards climate justice and equity," but "the right investments need to flow to the right places for the biggest impact." "The CVI equips and enables communities, policymakers, and organisations to proactively address vulnerabilities and enhance resilience in the face of a changing climate."
According to the research conducted by the CVI and the release, the counties of St. John the Baptist, Iberville, St. Landry, and Acadia in Louisiana are among the most vulnerable in the United States. Acadia and Tangipahoa are also on the list. Additionally receiving special attention are the counties of Knox, Floyd, and Whitley in the state of Kentucky, as well as Dillon and Jefferson in the states of South Carolina and Texas.
Dr. Weihsueh A. Chiu, a professor at Texas A&M University, applauds the initiative and says the following regarding its significance: "The launch of the CVI represents a significant leap forwards in our understanding of the cumulative impacts of climate change." This cutting-edge tool offers a model for addressing issues of climate and environmental justice on a global scale at the community level. It does so by supplying a comprehensive framework for evaluating the multi-dimensional susceptibilities of communities to climate-related risks. In this way, the tool provides a model for addressing these issues locally.
