Among Asian cities, Ahmedabad faces a
high risk from the so-called urban heat island effect (urban centres seeing
higher temperatures compared to surrounding areas) and Mumbai is at high risk
from floods and sea level rise, the IPCC has said.
The Ganga, Indus,
Amu Darya and other river basins in Asia could face severe water scarcity by
2050 due to climate crisis
The Ganga, Indus, Amu Darya and other river
basins in Asia could face severe water scarcity by 2050 due to climate crisis
and related impacts that act as stress multipliers, the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) warned on Monday.
The climate crisis is already increasing
vector-borne and water-borne diseases, undernutrition, mental disorders and
allergic diseases in Asia by increasing the hazards such as heatwaves, flooding
and drought, air pollution, in combination with higher exposure and
vulnerability, IPCC’s report titled “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation
and Vulnerability” flagged.
Infant mortality will rise
“Extreme heat puts additional load on the
circulatory system which has to do additional work to cool the body via
perspiration. This may lead to dehydration and increased metabolism. Excess
heat may be linked to increase or exacerbation of complications of diabetes due
to dehydration and increased metabolism. Infant mortality will rise because
children are not able to control their body temperature well. Their bodies can
get overheated during heat waves,” said DilipMalvankar, director, Indian
Institute of Public Health, Gujarat.
Habitat loss of animals and plants due to the climate crisis
There has also been biodiversity or
habitat loss of animals and plants due to the climate crisis in some parts of
Asia. Future climate change would cause greater biodiversity and habitat loss
in many parts of Asia, modelling studies indicate. The risk of irreversible
loss of coral reefs, tidal marshes, seagrass meadows, plankton communities and
other marine and coastal ecosystems will increase.
Climate change
caused loss to infrastructure
Climate change caused
loss to infrastructure, disruption in services and affected supply chains in
Asia and will increase risk to infrastructure further -- even as it creates
opportunities to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and green jobs, the
report said. | 
