Climate Exploitation Risk Index

The Climate Exploitation Risk Index (CERI) is Suraksha Lens' flagship risk assessment framework, designed to identify where climate-related disasters are most likely to increase the risk of exploitation. Built on the principles of the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, CERI goes beyond measuring disaster impacts to understand the social conditions that make communities vulnerable in the aftermath of climate shocks.

The index brings together three interconnected dimensions—hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. It analyses the frequency and intensity of climate events such as floods, droughts, cyclones, and heatwaves; identifies the people and livelihoods exposed to these hazards; and examines underlying factors such as poverty, migration, gender inequality, informal work, and weak institutional support that shape the likelihood of exploitation. By combining these dimensions into a single evidence-based framework, CERI helps governments, humanitarian agencies, and civil society identify emerging hotspots, prioritise preventive action, and strengthen climate adaptation efforts before crises escalate.

Behind every data point is a person, a family, and a community. CERI transforms evidence into action that keeps people safe.