INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Pakistan's heatwave woes to worsen further as summer temperatures spike steadilyISLAMABAD - Deadly heatwaves
areas of the country, as these global warming-induced extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and occurring over a much greater
torching the various cities and towns of the country, are frequently cited as one of the most direct effects of global warming-induced
Saleem said that the Pakistan is most likely to suffer more frequent and intense heat waves as the average temperatures in the country are
constantly increasing.Heat waves matter because they kill large numbers of people through heat stress, cause forest fires, reduce crop
yields and damage ecosystems, which are not adapted to high temperatures, he emphasised.The media spokesperson said that the World
five-fold rise in heat wave days over last 30 years
frequency and intensity levels of extreme weather events including heat waves, cloudbursts, floods, glacial melt, agricultural productivity,
People with no access to air conditioning or a cool breeze become, however, at high risk, he added.Quoting a study published last year in
the Nature Climate Change Journal, Mohamamd Saleem said that globally one in three person is vulnerable to heat wave-related health impacts
But by the year 2100, three out of four people on Earth could be subject to at least 20 days per year of heat and humidity associated with
deadly heat waves, if carbon emissions from industries, transport, aviation, energy, deforestation and agriculture continue to rise at their
cities from 36 countries about 30% of the world's population (and about 13% of the land area) experiences at least 20 days per year on which
the deadly threshold is reached
By 2100, this percentage jumps to 74% of the population (47% of the land area) if emissions continue unchecked.He pointed out that even
though humans aggressively cut back on these carbon emissions, such as outlined in the Paris climate agreement, increasing temperatures and
humidity levels would combine to ratchet up the intensity and frequency of deadly heat waves in various countries including Pakistan, India,
practices in Karachi have proven that they can save lives in the heat wave-vulnerable areas of the country, Mr
The climate change media spokesperson suggested that that building capacity of individuals and communities to respond to the heat stress
during heat-waves by raising heat-health awareness campaigns in the country before the onset of a heat waves season can be of a great help
to cope with the fallouts of the heat waves on the health of people.Besides, expanding cool roofs, painting solar reflective paint on
buildings, encouraging gardens on rooftops, increasing access to drinking water and training medical personnel, he added.Mr
Saleem also underlined the need for district-wise heat wave management plans comprising measures including no or reduced power outages,
sustained provision of water, healthcare facilities in hospitals and establishment of roadside public shades to stave off human losses from
