In the lead-up to 21st meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP 21), 10 countries have come from behind to make marked progress in their ability to withstand the shocks and stresses of climate change, while five are distinctly less resilient, according to data released Tuesday (Nov. 17) by the University of Notre Dame (ND-GAIN).

Over the last five years, the 10 countries that have made the biggest jump on the to become better climate adapters are Cote d’Ivoire, Laos, Georgia, The Philippines, Russia, Poland, Rwanda, Mongolia, Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

These countries share improvement in common factors that have contributed to the upward movement: primarily their improving economies and improving adaptive capacities, such as increased access to reliable drinking water, improved sanitation, increased agricultural capacity and decreased slum populations and child malnutrition.

On the flip side, a set of countries is heading in the wrong direction. The countries that have deteriorated the most in their ND-GAIN score during the past five years are Libya, Syria, Cuba, Saint Kitts and Yemen.

The contributing factors to these countries’ falling scores are primarily increases in corruption, political instability, violence and poor rule of law.

“Interestingly, several countries with the biggest losses on ND-GAIN Country Index are also very fragile, suggesting a connection between climate and conflict,” notes ND-GAIN scientific adviser . Comparing ND-GAIN to the Fund for Peace’s , Libya, Syria and Yemen are some of the poorest performers over the past five years on both of these indices. On the other hand, Ukraine is also doing poorly on FSI, but not on ND-GAIN, possibly because the conflict there arose from pressures outside its borders.

Click for larger image

The examination of biggest gainers and biggest losers on the ND-GAIN Country Index suggests that investments to increase climate adaptation may pay dividends for a country’s stability and development, and vice versa.

The ND-GAIN analysis both reinforces messages in the Pope’s recent encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, and confirms the interrelationship of climate adaptation with many of the United Nations’ , highlighting the collateral benefits climate action can have on key elements of well-being.

“To save lives and improve livelihoods, we must not only prevent the avoidable, but also prepare for the unavoidable changes in climate,” , managing director of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, said. “In the lead-up to the Paris Conference of the Parties next month, the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index identifies the world’s hotspots so that leaders can prioritize investments that help countries to be more adaptive to global changes.”

“The aim behind ND-GAIN’s data delivery is to provide information for the common good,” said , index director of the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index. “Free and open source, the ND-GAIN Country Index also has extensive online tools that allow index users to compare asset risks and opportunities.”

The ND-GAIN Country Index aims to unlock global adaptation solutions that save lives and improve livelihoods while strengthening market positions in the private sector and policy decisions in the public sector. Measuring not only vulnerability but also the readiness to take on investment, it informs strategic, operational and reputational decisions regarding supply chains, capital projects and community engagements. The index includes 20 years of data across 46 indicators for 180 countries. ND-GAIN is housed in the of the University of Notre Dame.

A recording of the press event webinar will be available on Wednesday (Nov. 18) at .

Contact: Joyce Coffee, managing director, Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, 312-894-9028, jcoffee@nd.edu

The (ND-GAIN) at the University of Notre Dame is continuing to accept applications for the , which recognizes projects that have made measurable contributions in creating resilience or adaptation to climate change, until July 31 (Friday).

Past winners of the prize include PepsiCo, Novartis, Ushahidi, Monsanto and Engineers Without Borders.

This year’s winners will demonstrate meaningful impacts in an emerging economy that decrease vulnerability and increase readiness by enhancing food security, water access, sanitation, coastal protection, ecosystem services, human habitats, infrastructure resiliency or human health, or by improving economic, social or governance function.

Projects must be led by either a multinational corporation or a local corporation working on a project in a lower income country and must include collaboration with local partners. Project applications will be judged on their measurable adaptation impact, scalability (relative within their category — multinational or local corporations) and market impact. Prize winners will also be consistent with the University of Notre Dame’s mission.

The judges for this year’s prize include Dan Bena, PepsiCo; Nick Shufro, PricewaterhouseCoopers; Ryan Schuchard, Business for Social Responsibility; Aman Singh, Edelman; Lisa Manley, Edelman; Chris Walker, World Business Council for Sustainable Development; Peter Mulvaney, West Monroe Partners; Carolyn Woo, Catholic Relief Services; Charlie Hough, Novartis; Loren Labovitch, MWH Global; and Dethie S. Ndiaye, Centre Suive Ecologique.

The winner(s) and honorable mentions will be announced at an awards event at Climate Week New York in September and to the national and international media.

The simple six-question application can be submitted online at .

The Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index is a practical solution to the world’s climate problem. It promotes adaptation by identifying the places most vulnerable to extreme weather and changing climate and identifying real-world solutions that can prevent these changes from becoming disasters. Its flagship asset is the free and open-source , the world’s leading index showing which countries are prepared to handle global changes brought about by overcrowding, resource constraints and climate disruption. The index ranks countries based on their vulnerability and, uniquely, how ready they are to adapt.

As people, governments and corporations are increasingly impacted by droughts, superstorms, civil conflicts and other disasters, ND-GAIN helps solve problems that keep leaders up at night by providing assets that transcend risks across sectors – including elements of water, health, food, infrastructure, security, governance, economy and society.

ND-GAIN works with corporate and development leaders to manage risks made worse by climate change. Efforts include research, measurement and analysis, corporate engagement, and outreach. In addition to the Country Index, ND-GAIN leads an annual State of Corporate Adaptation Survey, to help further collective understanding of best practices, barriers, enablers and strategies to prepare for climate change in the corporate world; awards the ND-GAIN Corporate Adaptation Prize, a yearly prize that recognizes organizations that have made measurable contributions to creating adaptation to climate change; and create forums for influencers to discuss what is new in adaptation around the globe.

ND-GAIN’s mission is to enhance the world’s understanding of the importance of adaptation and inform private and public investments in vulnerable communities. It is part of the of the University of Notre Dame’s (ND-ECI), a strategic research initiative focused on “science serving society,” and draw resources from across the campus.

Contact: Joyce Coffee, 574-807-9322, jcoffee@nd.edu