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Those countries that are releasing the most greenhouse gases face the least risk of climate change effects, compared to those that emit fewer gases, says a new study by researchers from the University of Queensland and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Climate change can be caused by habitat changes and increased frequency of natural disasters.

"There is an enormous global inequality in which those countries most responsible for causing climate change are the least vulnerable to its effects," Glenn Althor, lead author of the study, said in a press release. "It is the time that this persistent and worsening climate inequity is resolved and for the largest emitting countries to act."

Hence, of the 36 countries who had the highest emissions, such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, China and most of Western Europe, 20 countries were the least vulnerable to climate change. On the other hand, 11 countries among the 17 who showed low to moderate emissions seemed to be the most open to risk.

Nations facing the risk of excessive environmental change such as oceanic inundation and desertification are the least developed to be able to cope with the challenges.

"This is like a non-smoker getting cancer from second-hand smoke while the heavy smokers continue to puff away. Essentially we are calling for the smokers to pay for the health care of the non-smokers they are directly harming," added co-author James Watson.

Worryingly, the less developed countries are expected to face worse disasters by 2030 even as there is increasing climate change, leading to droughts, floods, disease and the loss of biodiversity.

"The recent Paris agreement was a significant step forward in global climate negotiations" said Richard Fuller, co-author of the study. "There now needs to be a meaningful mobilization of these policies, to achieve national emissions reductions while helping the most vulnerable countries adapt to climate change."

The findings were published in Feb. 5,2016 issue of Scientific Reports.