Cloudbursts, intense weather events characterized by heavy rainfall within a short period, have been increasing in frequency in Himalayan regions, causing devastating floods and landslides. Experts attribute this increase to climate change and unplanned development in mountainous areas. Global warming leads to more evaporation, resulting in the formation of dense cumulonimbus clouds and intense rainfall. Excessive deforestation and construction in flood-prone regions should be avoided to minimize the impact of these events.
A new study published in the Nature Sustainability journal warns that countries across the Gulf region and the wider Middle East are highly vulnerable to extreme heat borne out of climate change, with poorer populations being particularly at risk in the decades ahead. The study evaluates the exposure in two scenarios by 2070, namely if global temperatures rise by 1.5C (2.7F) or by 2.7C (4.9F). The Middle East is an already hot region that is expected to face widespread extreme heat in the future, posing habitability challenges of coping physiologically with extreme heat, producing food, sourcing water, and working outside.
Climate change exacerbates gender inequalities and directly and indirectly affects women’s sexual health, pregnancy outcomes, contraceptive use, and fertility intentions in Bangladesh. During extreme weather events, access to healthcare and contraceptives is limited, and the climate crisis deepens economic instability and adds extra burdens on women’s caregiving responsibilities. Rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion have choked off access to clean drinking water, causing infections, cancers, and injury to women's reproductive organs. The risks to women’s reproductive health are expected to increase as cyclones and flooding events become more frequent and intense due to global warming.
India's progress towards sustainable development goals is being slowed down by the underestimation of the damage caused by extreme heat, which is placing 80% of the population in danger. The country's vulnerability to climate change is not being accurately assessed, as the metrics used do not take into account the impact of searing temperatures on reducing poverty and improving health outcomes. Researchers at Cambridge University have called for an overhaul of how progress on development goals is measured to reflect the gravity of extreme heat in the country.
India's progress towards sustainable development goals has been slowed down by the underestimated impact of extreme heat on the country's population, according to a study by researchers at Cambridge University. The study calls for an overhaul on how progress on development goals is measured to reflect the gravity of extreme heat in the country. Extreme heat is placing 80% of India’s 1.4 billion population in danger, but assessments of how vulnerable the country is to climate change don’t take into account how much the searing temperatures in recent decades are hampering goals like reducing poverty and improving health outcomes across India’s population.
India's progress towards sustainable development goals has been slowed down by the severe weather extremes caused by the country's sizzling heat, which is placing 80% of its population in danger, according to a study by researchers at Cambridge University. The study calls for an overhaul on how progress on development goals is measured to reflect the gravity of extreme heat in the country. The researchers found that assessments of how vulnerable the country is to climate change don't take into account how much the searing temperatures in recent decades are hampering goals like reducing poverty and improving health outcomes across India's population.
