Monitoring Desk

Geneva

The impact of climate change on health if carbon emissions remain high, could be up to twice as deadly as cancer in some parts of the world, according to new data released by the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the Climate Impact Lab.

The study gives the example of Dhaka, Bangladesh, where under a scenario of very high emissions by 2100, additional deaths due to climate change could rise to nearly twice the country’s current annual death rate from all cancers, and 10 times its annual road traffic fatalities.

“Because of human action, the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is reaching dangerous levels, driving Earth’s temperatures higher and amplifying the frequency of intensity of extreme events”, says the newly launched Human Climate Horizons platform, adding that without concerted and urgent action, climate change will further exacerbate inequalities, and uneven development.

Mortality impacts

Building on the analyses of 2020, 2021 and 2022 Human Development Reports – and fed by an evolving stream of frontier research – the data shows how climate change can impact people’s lives – from mortality to livelihoods, and energy use.

Although higher temperatures and a warmer climate put cardiovascular and respiratory systems under stress everywhere, outcomes will vary between places, according to communities that have the resources to adapt and those that do not.

The data shows that climate change could increase mortality rates in Faisalabad, Pakistan by near 67 deaths per 100,000 population – causing more fatalities than strokes, the country’s third leading cause of death.

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, however, higher incomes could keep the death toll to 35 per 100,000, which is still deadlier than Alzheimer’s disease – the sixth leading cause of death globally.

Rising temps

Since the late 19th century, the earth’s average temperature has risen by nearly 1.2°C, changing the entire surface area of the planet, according to the research.

However, billions live in regions that have already experienced warming greater than the global average.

As an example, the platform pointed to Maracaibo, Venezuela, noting that in the 1990s it averaged 62 annual days with temperatures exceeding 35°C. However, by mid-century, that number will likely soar to 201 days.

Energy impacts

Electricity availability and fuels used to generate it to power air conditioners and heaters, play a crucial role in our ability to cope with extreme temperatures, said UNDP.

Yet, the impacts of climate change on energy use will vary locally, as individuals, communities and businesses adapt to conditions using available resources.

In Jakarta, for example, electricity consumption in response to warmer temperatures is projected to increase by roughly one-third of current household consumption in Indonesia. This will require critical additional infrastructure planning.

Labor impacts

More frequent and severe temperature extremes also impact livelihoods, affecting the ability to perform tasks and influencing work intensity and duration.

“The impact of climate change differs across sectors of the economy with workers in high-risk, weather-exposed industries like agriculture, construction, mining and manufacturing most affected”, according to platform data.

In Niamey, Niger, in sectors such as construction, mining and manufacturing, excessive heat was responsible for 36 fewer working hours annually, taking a 2.5 per cent toll on the country’s future GDP.

Human consequences

As the impacts of climate change are not evenly distributed globally, they will generate a significant uptick in inequalities over the coming years and decades.

But by highlighting that the future is not predetermined, UNDP hopes the information can empower people everywhere, to step up climate action.

The Human Climate Horizons mission is to ensure equal access to data on future impacts, inform decision-making and help everyone understand the human consequences of climate change in different scenarios.

‘Logical economic choice’

Meanwhile, UNDP has also launched the How Just Transition Can Deliver the Paris Agreement report this week, highlighting the need to embrace the “green revolution” – or risk increasing social inequality, civil unrest, and economic loss.

Ahead of the UN climate conference, COP27, which kicks off on Sunday in in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the report spotlights the importance of “fair and equitable” transitioning to meeting the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement.

From providing workers with new green economy skills and access to social protection to ensuring that countries lay out a clear pathway to a net-zero future, UNDP chief Achim Steiner said the report provides “real-world insights into how to accelerate momentum around a just transition that is fair and equitable for the energy sector and beyond”.

A just transition

The report analyses both enhanced short-term climate pledges, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and long-term strategies in which countries lay out plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero.

Encouragingly, 72 per cent of nations with enhanced NDCs that refer to a just transition are linking them to socio-economic considerations, while 66 per cent are proposing concrete actions and measures factoring in climate justice.

However, they fail to make linkages to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or gender equality in either short or long-term climate plans – missing a significant opportunity, UNDP said.

“As climate change intensifies and the world faces an immense energy crunch…decoupling from fossil fuels and investing in the green energy infrastructure of tomorrow is the only logical economic choice”, said Mr. Steiner.

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Courtesy: UN News (Posted on November 4, 2022)

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Islamabad

According to the latest statistics, over one million people are badly affected by heavy rains and floods in Pakistan, mostly in three provinces – Sindh (436,000 people), Balochistan (360,000 people), and Punjab (119,000 people).

As per the updated statistics of NDMA, a total of 635 people died and 1016 people were injured. More than 1800 houses were badly damaged, and 110,440 livestock perished. People in the affected region are in higher need of shelter, food, and non-food items along with services required for health, education, and protection.

Releasing the figures of damage on Friday, the World Humanitarian Day, Pakistan Humanitarian Forum, in view of the destructions caused by Climate Change impact, underlined the dire need to focus on climate emergency and humanitarian crisis and taking tangible steps and actions at program and policy level.

Pakistan Humanitarian Forum along with its member organizations is actively monitoring the situation and fully engaged with the government of Pakistan to provide a timely response and to conduct the need assessment of the affected population.

Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF) member organizations (Islamic Relief, HHRD, Muslim Hands, Human Appeal, WHH, Concern, ACF, Save the children, AKAH, Care International, Muslim Aid, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, IMC, Tearfund, ACTED, CESVI and Qatar Charity) are fully present in affected districts of Balochistan (Quetta, Pishin, Kachi, Mach, Lasbela, Killa Abdullah, Kalat, Sibi, Jhal Magsi, Kot Magsi, Kalaat, Noshki, and Killa Saifullah), KP (Peshawar, Laki Marwat, Shangla), Punjab (D.G. Khan, Tounsa Shareef, Rajanpur, Jhang, Mianwali, Rajanpur, Lahore, and Rahimyar Khan), Sindh (Karachi, Keemari, Hyderabad, Dadu, Thatta, Badin, Mirpur Khas, Jamshoro, and Soomar Goth), and GB (Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral) and providing relief and rescue operation in full zeal. Collectively these organizations have reached out to around 109,441 beneficiaries and 15,635 households by providing cooked meals, dry fruit parcels, filtered water, NFIs, Shelter, and Health & hygiene support, it said in a press release.

About his visit to the affected part of Balochistan, the Country Director of Islamic Relief, Asif Sherazi mentioned that “The areas of Noshki and Panjpai haven’t seen such rains for decades, resulting in damages that require urgent attention. Even the partially damaged houses are not livable forcing people to spend days and nights in open under extremely hot weather conditions.” He further added “Keeping in mind the scale of damages and losses, we need to work in close collaboration to create long-term impact. As we are in the early recovery phase, there is a dire need to focus more on disaster preparedness at national and provincial levels to minimize the risks in the years to come.”

“While visiting Balochistan during ongoing flood situation, we have realized that people are in dire need of shelter, food, and non-food items. Though Muslim Hands provided immediate response and reached out to 27,000 people by providing food staples, cooked meals, clean drinking water and NFIs. However, the situation is still worst, and an integrated approach is required to cater the needs of flood affectees,” said, Mr. Javed Gillani, Country Director Muslim Hands.

To better provide the response services, Dr. Farah Naureen, Country Director, Mercy Corps shared, that $ 40,000 will be invested in District Quetta to cater the needs of 300 families 1950 individuals by providing food and non-food items.

While responding to the situation and holding the meeting with provincial and national authorities to provide coordination support to mobilize resources at all levels for the ongoing flood emergency, Mr. Shahid Kazmi, Country Coordinator, Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF) shared that “PHF and NHH (National Humanitarian Network) are rapidly providing the response services and are speeding up the efforts for resource mobilization to provide extensive relief operations to and meet the people’s needs at all levels”. “He further added that the only challenge that INGOs, and NGOs have faced is the lack of emergency appeal and formal request for assistance. for scaling up the flood response at different levels”.

He also shared that on World Humanitarian Day, we must reaffirm our commitment to take tangible steps to combat climate change and focus on the initiatives that help to make this country resilient and prosperous.

World Humanitarian Day, commemorated every year to advocate for the survival, well-being, and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers. This year World Humanitarian Day is celebrated at a crucial time, especially in the countries that are suffering from the visible impact of climate change. The monsoon emergency and the post-COVID-19 situation in many South Asian countries are giving a very tough time. Pakistan is on the top list of those countries that are quite vulnerable to climate change.

Pakistan Humanitarian Forum along with its member organizations is always at the forefront to provide support in any kind of humanitarian crisis in the country. The forum along with its member organizations played a substantial role during COVID-19 by reaching out to 11.1 million people in Pakistan through intervention in different sectors including food security, water, sanitation and hygiene, and health and education with a total investment of 9.7 billion PKR.

This year, unlike recent years, devastating monsoon floods gave a stark reminder that Pakistan is bearing the consequences of the climate emergency. Increased casualty rate, economic losses, and damage to infrastructure and livelihood causing a huge impact on vulnerable population calls for an immediate yet coordinated humanitarian relief and response. (PR)

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