2024 will be remembered in climate history for extreme weather events. This year was full of challenges for India as well as the whole of Asia in dealing with climate change. Talking about Asia is also important because the tension was seen between developed and developing countries on the issue of climate fund in the COP29 summit makes it necessary to mention Asian concerns here. The attitude of the US and European countries, which hold the record of historical emissions on climate change, towards the climate fund is such that it would not be wrong to call it 'climate colonialism'. Heatwaves broke all previous records in 2024. Dangerous forest fires in the Himalayan states of India, coastal fishermen of Malaysia were driven away from the sea, and North Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines suffered a lot due to flash floods and storms. A collective problem faced by all these developing countries is the loss of productivity due to these climate change-related extreme weather events. The way these events are seen to increase in 2024 is a clear warning signal regarding climate action and adaptation related steps.
Serious impact on health:
Since the increasing extreme weather events due to climate change are affecting developing countries the most, health related problems are also emerging in the same proportion. For example - in 2024 itself, problems like dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke were observed due to heat waves. According to the report of WAM DOT AE, 61 people had died in Thailand by May. In comparison, the number of deaths in Thailand due to heatwaves in 2023 was lower for the whole year. This clearly indicates that the effect of climate change is escalating year after year. Heat waves have also caused a lot of damage to countries like the Philippines. According to a report by The Hindu, in-person classes for more than 10 lakh students had to be postponed in the Philippines.
If we look at the economic aspect, its adverse effects are same. Drought were also observed in Central Indian states, Gujarat and Maharashtra, which affected the production of many major crops and increased the threat to food security.
https://www.wam.ae/en/article/b32zjgo-killed-heatstroke-far-this-year-thailand
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/news/international/thousands-of-philippine-schools-suspend-in-person-classes-due-to-heat/article68032913.ece/amp/
http://epaper.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202407/08/WS668b169ea3106431fe82cf1b.html
The devastating effects of climate change and the role of El Niñ:
2024 has been recorded as the hottest year to date, influenced by many local and global factors. The Continuous decrease in vegetation, effects like urban heat island , and reduction in soil moisture have all contributed in amplifying in the effect of heat in urban areas. The dense infrastructure of urban areas is a major factor- which, under the current parameters of development, seems almost impossible to curb.
The abnormal rise in sea surface temprature in the Pacific Ocean and then its result is directly impacting weather patterns, creating hot and dry weather conditions in different regions. According to the data, it has been continuously observed El Niño, the effect of heat waves is getting longer and rainfall is decreasing in the same proportion. It is having a negative impact on agricultural activities. In 2024, El Niño had the greatest impact on South Asia and Southeast Asia, severely affecting vulnerable communities. Their health and livelihoods have borne the burnt of these changes.
However, it's important to accept that these climate change events are not solely natural phenomena, but also driven by human activities. It would not be a exaggeration to call it a type of human induced climate change.
According to a report by Climate Trends, Regina Rodrigues, Professor of Physical Oceanography and Climate at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, says, "Severe droughts in the Amazon basin are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. We fear they might push the forest irreversibly to a drier state, leading to a reduction of moisture flow and carbon sink, as well as loss of biodiversity. All these critical processes are essential not only locally and regionally but also globally in order to maintain life as we know it."
This is not a new phenomenon. The ever increased effects of human-induced climate change and resulting extreme weather events should be a matter of grave concern for intellectuals and global leaders alike. The rise in heatwaves is a clear example of this. According to research, many events like El Niño are occurring more frequently due to global warming, with their timeline shiftinging from every 20 years to every 10 years. The consequences are devastating. For instance, the effects of rising global temperatures are significantly affecting South and Southeast Asia. The deprived communities of this region, have already lagged far behind in fighting these extreme weather events due to limited resources.
Health, Vulnerable population, and Socioeconomic Impacts
Extreme weather events are having the greatest impact on vulnerable populations. The constantly rising temperatures are increasing the prevalence of diseases caused by extreme heat. Problems like heatstroke and dehydration have been steadily rising, disproportionately affecting tlow income communities, particularly elder people and children.
Several studies have shown that the heat island effect exacerbates the problem in cities. Urban areas, due to their dense infrastructure, making them much hotter than surrounding rural areas.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/explained-how-heatwave-impacts-jobs-low-income-households-5771979
Apart from the health and social ill-effects of the heatwaves, its economic losses are becoming evident. South Asia and South East Asian countries, in particular, are grappling with significant challenges due to heat induced droughts. Water scarcity and its impact on crops have emerged as a direct threat to food security.
Migrant labourers in the agriculture and construction are specially vulnerable to heatwaves. Migrant labourers usually do not have any social security in these developing countries, compounding their risks.
The economic stress extends beyond agriculture, affecting broader economy. Health related disruptions are reducing productivity, further amplifying the economic toll of extreme heat.
Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, highlights the far-reaching impact of pollution and climate change on public health: “It’s no longer just an environmental issue; it has become a public health emergency. Millions of people across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia are breathing poisonous air. Ending our dependence on non-renewable energy sources is no longer optional. For our survival and the safety of future generations, we must adopt renewable energy.”
She adds, “The worsening air quality in major Asian cities, combined with the compounded impact of extreme heat, underscores the urgency of addressing climate-related health crises.”
How to deal with future challenges?
As these climate change related adverse effects demand urgent and decisive climate action, they simultaneously present new and complex challenges.
Friederike Otto, lead of the World Weather Attribution (WWA) initiative and Senior Lecturer in Climate Science at Imperial College London, points out, “We do have the knowledge and technology to move away from fossil fuels, towards renewable energies, lower demand, and halt deforestation. We need to implement these and not get distracted by technologies like carbon dioxide removal; they will not work without doing everything else first.”
A solid global strategy for climate mitigation and adaptation is the need of the hour, transcending the debate between developed and developing countries. Shifting to renewable energy sources and taking strict steps to reduce deforestation in the race for development are key measures that can be implemented sincerely to save the Blue Planet from climate change. As Barack Obama rightly said:
"We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it."
Serious impact on health:
Since the increasing extreme weather events due to climate change are affecting developing countries the most, health related problems are also emerging in the same proportion. For example - in 2024 itself, problems like dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke were observed due to heat waves. According to the report of WAM DOT AE, 61 people had died in Thailand by May. In comparison, the number of deaths in Thailand due to heatwaves in 2023 was lower for the whole year. This clearly indicates that the effect of climate change is escalating year after year. Heat waves have also caused a lot of damage to countries like the Philippines. According to a report by The Hindu, in-person classes for more than 10 lakh students had to be postponed in the Philippines.
If we look at the economic aspect, its adverse effects are same. Drought were also observed in Central Indian states, Gujarat and Maharashtra, which affected the production of many major crops and increased the threat to food security.
https://www.wam.ae/en/article/b32zjgo-killed-heatstroke-far-this-year-thailand
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/news/international/thousands-of-philippine-schools-suspend-in-person-classes-due-to-heat/article68032913.ece/amp/
http://epaper.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202407/08/WS668b169ea3106431fe82cf1b.html
The devastating effects of climate change and the role of El Niñ:
2024 has been recorded as the hottest year to date, influenced by many local and global factors. The Continuous decrease in vegetation, effects like urban heat island , and reduction in soil moisture have all contributed in amplifying in the effect of heat in urban areas. The dense infrastructure of urban areas is a major factor- which, under the current parameters of development, seems almost impossible to curb.
The abnormal rise in sea surface temprature in the Pacific Ocean and then its result is directly impacting weather patterns, creating hot and dry weather conditions in different regions. According to the data, it has been continuously observed El Niño, the effect of heat waves is getting longer and rainfall is decreasing in the same proportion. It is having a negative impact on agricultural activities. In 2024, El Niño had the greatest impact on South Asia and Southeast Asia, severely affecting vulnerable communities. Their health and livelihoods have borne the burnt of these changes.
However, it's important to accept that these climate change events are not solely natural phenomena, but also driven by human activities. It would not be a exaggeration to call it a type of human induced climate change.
According to a report by Climate Trends, Regina Rodrigues, Professor of Physical Oceanography and Climate at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, says, "Severe droughts in the Amazon basin are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. We fear they might push the forest irreversibly to a drier state, leading to a reduction of moisture flow and carbon sink, as well as loss of biodiversity. All these critical processes are essential not only locally and regionally but also globally in order to maintain life as we know it."
This is not a new phenomenon. The ever increased effects of human-induced climate change and resulting extreme weather events should be a matter of grave concern for intellectuals and global leaders alike. The rise in heatwaves is a clear example of this. According to research, many events like El Niño are occurring more frequently due to global warming, with their timeline shiftinging from every 20 years to every 10 years. The consequences are devastating. For instance, the effects of rising global temperatures are significantly affecting South and Southeast Asia. The deprived communities of this region, have already lagged far behind in fighting these extreme weather events due to limited resources.
Health, Vulnerable population, and Socioeconomic Impacts
Extreme weather events are having the greatest impact on vulnerable populations. The constantly rising temperatures are increasing the prevalence of diseases caused by extreme heat. Problems like heatstroke and dehydration have been steadily rising, disproportionately affecting tlow income communities, particularly elder people and children.
Several studies have shown that the heat island effect exacerbates the problem in cities. Urban areas, due to their dense infrastructure, making them much hotter than surrounding rural areas.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/explained-how-heatwave-impacts-jobs-low-income-households-5771979
Apart from the health and social ill-effects of the heatwaves, its economic losses are becoming evident. South Asia and South East Asian countries, in particular, are grappling with significant challenges due to heat induced droughts. Water scarcity and its impact on crops have emerged as a direct threat to food security.
Migrant labourers in the agriculture and construction are specially vulnerable to heatwaves. Migrant labourers usually do not have any social security in these developing countries, compounding their risks.
The economic stress extends beyond agriculture, affecting broader economy. Health related disruptions are reducing productivity, further amplifying the economic toll of extreme heat.
Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, highlights the far-reaching impact of pollution and climate change on public health: “It’s no longer just an environmental issue; it has become a public health emergency. Millions of people across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia are breathing poisonous air. Ending our dependence on non-renewable energy sources is no longer optional. For our survival and the safety of future generations, we must adopt renewable energy.”
She adds, “The worsening air quality in major Asian cities, combined with the compounded impact of extreme heat, underscores the urgency of addressing climate-related health crises.”
How to deal with future challenges?
As these climate change related adverse effects demand urgent and decisive climate action, they simultaneously present new and complex challenges.
Friederike Otto, lead of the World Weather Attribution (WWA) initiative and Senior Lecturer in Climate Science at Imperial College London, points out, “We do have the knowledge and technology to move away from fossil fuels, towards renewable energies, lower demand, and halt deforestation. We need to implement these and not get distracted by technologies like carbon dioxide removal; they will not work without doing everything else first.”
A solid global strategy for climate mitigation and adaptation is the need of the hour, transcending the debate between developed and developing countries. Shifting to renewable energy sources and taking strict steps to reduce deforestation in the race for development are key measures that can be implemented sincerely to save the Blue Planet from climate change. As Barack Obama rightly said:
"We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it."