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Climate change: Water scarcity worst in South Asia, UN says
Source: DW News
Date: 13 Nov 2023
A UNICEF report reveals that 347 million children in South Asia, more than half the regional total, face severe water shortages due to climate change-induced events like floods and droughts. With 55% of South Asian children affected, the region has the highest water scarcity rate globally. Climate change disrupts weather patterns, impacting water availability, and the situation is expected to worsen. Following South Asia, Eastern and Southern Africa are the next severely affected areas, with 130 million children facing water scarcity. The report, released ahead of COP28, emphasizes the need for international action to ensure a sustainable planet for children.
Rising temperatures, longer monsoon drive Bangladesh’s worst dengue outbreak
Source: Reuters
Date: 14 Nov 2023
Bangladesh is facing its worst-ever dengue outbreak, with a death toll of 1,476 and 291,832 infections in 2023, exacerbated by rising temperatures and extended monsoons due to climate change. Experts link the severe outbreak to altered weather patterns creating ideal breeding conditions for the disease-spreading Aedes mosquito. The deaths this year are over five times that of 2022, marking the deadliest year since tracking began in 2000. Unusual climate shifts, such as monsoon-like rain in mid-October, contribute to mosquito adaptation. Dengue cases have now been reported in all 64 districts, necessitating year-round vector surveillance in Bangladesh.
IPCC vice-chair vows to give Himalayas attention they deserve
Source: The Third Pole
Date: 9 Nov 2023
Nepali atmospheric scientist Maheswar Rupakheti, recently elected as vice-chair of Working Group I in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), discusses challenges faced by scientists from the global south. Rupakheti emphasizes the need for scientists to engage with policymakers for nominations, highlighting the lack of representation in IPCC reports due to variations in research focus across regions. He aims to address underrepresented issues and regions, particularly the Himalayas, in future reports. Rupakheti advocates for more resources directed towards research in the global south, and envisions a Himalayan Council to foster collaboration and amplify South Asian voices globally.
