DARA, a leading humanitarian research organization, and the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a group of committed most vulnerable countries, Friday launched a major new global report on the state of the climate crisis.

The "Climate Vulnerability Monitor" reveals distinct vulnerabilities in 184 countries and all regions of the world to short-term impacts of climate change just as the slow search for an international deal to tackle longer-term global warming continues at the UN climate summit in Cancun, Mexico (COP-16).

The Climate Vulnerability Monitor, backed by leading international authorities on climate change, categorizes countries across the world into low, moderate, high, severe, and acute vulnerability to its impact.

The report's barometer assesses each country according to estimated effects in the four key areas of health, weather disasters, human habitat loss and economic stresses on affected sectors and natural resources.

The Monitor points to a large-scale crisis with some impacts increasing by over 300% globally by 2030. In less than 20 years, almost all countries in the world -- over 170 -- will realize high vulnerability to at least one major climate impact as the planet heats up: "the fate of the vulnerable will be the fate of the world."

Today, the majority of impacts are still highly concentrated in more than 50 acutely vulnerable low-income countries, urgently needing assistance.

Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand said: "This report shows the extent of vulnerability to climate change impacts around the world, affecting almost all countries. Urgent action now is a crucial investment to avoid massive costs and suffering in future."

"The priority for assistance must be those countries that are not only vulnerable, but also least able to cope -- those with low capacity to respond and high levels of poverty. Cancun can put the foundation in place by agreeing to a fair global climate fund that allocates sufficient resources to adaptation with the mechanisms to do so equitably and accountably." Coates said.