Colombia, located in the northwest of South America, is a geographically varied country, with the Andes Mountains running through it and lowland plains in the east. It has a coastline along the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, with the Amazon tropical rainforests to the southeast. With a population of 50.8 million in 2020, expected to grow to 56 million by 2050, Colombia’s population is largely concentrated in the Andean highlands and the Caribbean coast, with less than 10% living in the eastern Llanos and tropical forests. Colombia is highly vulnerable to extreme weather, especially flooding caused by “La Niña” events. The Caribbean and Andean regions are particularly susceptible, with sectors such as housing, transportation, energy, agriculture, and health at significant risk from these climate impacts (World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal). Due to its varied elevations, Colombia experiences significant regional differences in temperature and precipitation. The coastal and eastern lowland areas have a tropical climate, while the highlands and Andes are cooler (UNEP GRID-Geneva). 

Ranked 5th in the 2024 World Risk Report, Colombia is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change (World Risk Index 2024). Mismanagement of forests, land, and natural resources, along with poor land-use planning in sectors like oil, mining, and agriculture, exacerbates deforestation and land degradation. Colombia’s geographic location makes it highly exposed to natural hazards, and climate-related disasters accounted for nearly 90% of the emergencies reported between 1998 and 2011, resulting in substantial economic losses. Without improved disaster risk management in urban, coastal, and agricultural areas, the country faces a continued rise in the frequency and economic cost of natural disasters.