NUMS emphasized, urgent need for investment in emerging green technology & inclusion of climate education in curricula to mitigate impact of global warming.
The scientific journal of the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) emphasized the urgent need for investment in emerging green technology and the inclusion of climate education in curricula to mitigate the impact of global warming, which is endangering human health, particularly that of marginalized people.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “the footprint of climate change is becoming more extreme in South Asia, including India, Pakistan, and the Philippines,” which are in the “high bracket” of the vulnerability assessment (IPCC).
Pakistan, a minor contributor to climate change, has been severely impacted by recent heavy rains and floods, resulting in the loss of life and livelihood. It stated that extreme weather conditions cause changes in air quality, natural calamities, and vector ecology that negatively impact human health.
“Human exposure to intense heat is linked to heatstroke, adverse pregnancy outcomes (including premature birth), acute kidney injury, disrupted sleep patterns, mental health problems, cancers, and the worsening of underlying respiratory and cardiac diseases,” according to the editorial.
Life and Science, which has already been added to the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) Journal Recognition System (HJRS), stated that meeting the needs of the disaster-affected population remained a priority and was “a key challenge in terms of resource constraints, afflicted health systems, changing disease burden, the provision of shelter and emergency relief items, delivering lifesaving and livelihood assistance, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs, prevention of disease outbreaks, addressing malnutrition, gender-based violence (GBV), psychosocial support (PSS), dignified protection, and family tracing.”
Climate education can empower individuals and communities to take action to reduce their own carbon footprint and advocate for policies that address climate change.
Climate hazards, according to the editorial, were increasing the burden on health services, which were already strained by the COVID-19 pandemic, co-epidemics (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis), and the double burden of disease (communicable and non-communicable diseases).
The recent UN Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh decided to provide “loss and damage” funding for vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters, according to the statement.
The past seven years have been declared the warmest on record, and the 1.5-degree climate target agreed upon at the Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris appears to be out of reach, as global mean surface temperature is projected to rise to a dangerous level between 1.5 and 3.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.
The environmental stressors, it said, affect the most vulnerable and marginalized people, like the elderly, pregnant women, new-born babies, people who are socially deprived, and people working outdoors.