99 of Asia's 100 most environmentally vulnerable cities

Of the 100 cities worldwide most vulnerable to environmental hazards all but one are in Asia, and four-fifths are in India or China, according to a risk assessment report. 

Across the globe, more than 400 large cities with a total population of 1.5 billion are at “high” or “extreme” risk due to some mixture of pollution, dwindling water supplies, heat waves, natural disasters and climate change, the report found. 

The sinking megacity of Jakarta –– plagued by pollution, flooding and heat waves, with worse to come –– topped the ranking. 

But India, home to 13 of the world’s 20 most risk-laden cities, may face the most daunting future of any country in the world. 

Delhi ranks second on the global index of 576 cities followed within India by Chennai (3rd), Agra (6th), Kanpur (10th), Jaipur (22nd) and Lucknow (24th). Mumbai is ranked 27th. 

Looking only at air pollution –– which causes more than 7 million premature deaths worldwide each year, including a million in India alone –– the 20 cities with the worst air quality in the world among urban areas of at least a million people are all in India. Delhi in pole position. 

China’s middle class 
Outside Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa have the largest proportion of “high risk” cities across all threat categories combined, but Lima is the only non-Asian city to crack the top 100. While richer than India, China faces formidable environmental challenges as well. 

Thirty-five of the 50 cities worldwide most beset by water pollution are in China, as are all but two of the top 15 facing water stress, according to the report. 

But different political systems and levels of development may ultimately play in China’s favour, the report’s lead author Will Nichols said. 

“For China, an emerging middle class is increasingly demanding cleaner air and water, which is being reflected in government targets,” he said. 

Africa hit hardest 
When it comes to global warming and its impacts, the focus shifts sharply to sub-Saharan Africa, home to 40 of the 45 most climate-vulnerable cities on the planet. 

The continent least responsible for rising global temperatures will get hit the hardest not only because of worse droughts, heatwaves, storms, and flooding but also because it is so ill-equipped to cope.