A report released by Christian Aid has revealed that some of the world's most disadvantaged countries might face a 64% economic hit by 2100 as a result of present climate policies.
According to the study, current strategies to combat climate change might cut countries' GDP by a fifth by 2050, putting the world on course for 2.9 degrees Celsius of warming.
The report is being issued at the same time as the COP26 negotiations, which are focusing on assisting poorer countries in adapting to rising temperatures as well as the loss and damage caused by climate change.
Even if the world reaches its aim of keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, vulnerable countries' GDP could be lowered by 13% by 2050 and by a third on average by the end of the century, the report said.
The average surface temperature of the Earth has risen 1.1 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century.
According to Christian Aid's research, more than a third of the world's countries require immediate assistance in building resilience in order to endure the onslaught of heatwaves, droughts, floods, and storms that are becoming more extreme and deadly as a result of global warming.
"The ability of countries in the Global South to sustainably develop is seriously jeopardised," lead author Marina Andrijevic from Humboldt University in Berlin said.
"Policy choices that we make right now are crucial for preventing further damage."
Africa has eight of the top ten most impacted countries, with two in South America.
Sudan, which was hit hard by severe rains and flash floods in September, lost the most GDP. More than 300,000 people were displaced.
By 2050, the country's GDP would have fallen by 32%, and by 84% by 2100, compared to what it would have been if climate change had not occurred.
The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) are two significant bargaining blocs at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which runs through Friday .
Storm surges exacerbated by rising oceans are particularly dangerous for small island states.
The approach used in the study does not account for steps to assist countries in adapting to changing climates, so investment in that area could mitigate some of the damage, according to the study's authors.
Climate-vulnerable countries demand that a fund be established within the UN system to give funding for loss and damage.
