News Digest | May 2023

Extreme weather caused two million deaths, cost $4 trillion over last 50 years

WMO/Muhammad Amdad Hossain | Seasonal rain regularly causes floods in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

WMO reported that weather, climate, and water-related risks caused close to 12,000 disasters between 1970 and 2021. In developing countries, 90% of deaths and 60% of economic losses were attributed to climate shocks and harsh weather. When compared to the size of their economies, the WMO claims that Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States were “disproportionately” affected by the costs associated with weather, climate, and water-related risks. In these countries, economic losses were up to 30% of GDP in the last half-century. Asia saw the biggest death toll over the past 50 years, with about a million people losing their lives as a result of extreme weather, climate, and water-related disasters. More than half of these deaths occurred alone in Bangladesh. 95% of the 733,585 deaths attributed to climatic disasters in Africa, according to WMO, were caused by droughts. The UN agency recorded that the deaths in 2020 and 2021 were lower than the average of the previous decade. New research on the effects of weather-related disasters on people and the economy was recently published by the World Meteorological Congress, which is held every four years. The UN’s Early Warnings for All project, announced by Secretary-General António Guterres at the COP27 climate change summit is the main focus of the Congress. By the end of 2027, the effort wants to make sure that everyone on the earth has access to early warning systems. Only half of the world has access to early warning systems at the moment while Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States are left far behind.

World must be ready to respond to next pandemic: WHO chief

© UNICEF | A woman shows her COVID-19 vaccine card alongside her sisters in Kano, Nigeria

In his remarks to the Member States, Tedros stressed that the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency does not imply that COVID-19 is no longer a threat to global health. He said that there is still a chance for the creation of a pathogen with an even greater capacity for killing as well as another variety that produces fresh outbreaks of disease and death. He also brought up the fact that pandemics are not the only threat we face and that effective global institutions are needed to identify and deal with emergencies of all types, particularly in the face of overlapping and merging crises. The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on the targets of SDGs which have a deadline of 2030 and the Triple Billion, announced at the 2017 World Health Assembly. The initiative aims to accomplish three main objectives over the course of five years: expanding universal health coverage to an additional one billion people, enhancing one billion more people’s protection from health emergencies, and improving the health and well-being of another billion people. COVID-19 highlighted that eight billion people, almost everyone on the planet needs better protection in emergencies. Taking measures to prevent illness and address its root causes has been a key strategy for countries to improve overall health. To this end, 133 nations have implemented additional taxes on unhealthy products, such as tobacco and sugary drinks, between 2017 and 2022. These taxes are aimed at discouraging the consumption of such products and promoting healthier choices.

Green light for global greenhouse gas tracking network

Unsplash/Johannes Plenio | Carbon dioxide levels and other greenhouse gas concentrations, continued at record levels, despite the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to fill critical knowledge gaps, WMO has launched Global Greenhouse Gas Watch, which will combine modeling with Earth and space observations. By supporting the free and unrestricted sharing of data, this effort will promote the Paris Agreement on climate change by leveraging the agency’s experience in managing international collaboration on weather forecasting. According to the WMO, the warming effect of the main greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—increased by about 50% between 1990 and 2021. Thus, it is important to monitor greenhouse gas within an integrated Earth System framework to control natural resources and sinks as both operate currently as a result of a changing climate. This will help with crucial support and information for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Through internationally coordinated global greenhouse gas monitoring, the UNFCCC Parties, who are trying to combat climate change, will gain useful, timely, and accurate information on greenhouse gas fluxes. Such information will be made available through this monitoring, which is accessible to everyone and functions in accordance with WMO’s principle of free and unrestricted data exchange.

UN representative alarmed by sexual violence against women and girls in DRC

© UNICEF/Jospin Benekire | A mother and her children walk through a camp for displaced people in Goma, eastern DR Congo.

Concern over reports of severe sexual assaults allegedly committed against civilians, including children, in particular among internally displaced people (IDPs) escaping conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, was voiced by the top UN official who represents women and girls who have experienced sexual abuse. In order to solve this problem, she underlined the need for quick action. The official also voiced grave concern over the incidence of several attacks that occurred in broad daylight and damaged the lives and activities of women and girls in Goma, the capital of the North Kivu region. According to a UNICEF report, Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases in 2022 and IDP camps define a ‘volatile security environment’, particularly for displaced girls and women. According to thousands of incidents documented by humanitarian partners, the official emphasized how sexual violence disproportionately affects women and girls. She pointed out that many victims miss out on vital services, such Post-Exposure Prophylaxis kits, during the crucial 72 hours following an attack. The official highlighted that the best way to safeguard women and girls in such circumstances is to offer medical aid and pathways out of violence and instability in the first place.

References

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1136897

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1136912

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1136992

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1137042

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