IMPACT OF WEATHER & CLIMATE CHANGE ON HUMAN HEALTH
The impacts of climate change on different sectors of society are interrelated. Drought can harm food production and human health. Flooding can lead to disease spread and damage to ecosystems and infrastructure. Human health issues can increase mortality, impact food availability, and limit worker productivity.
More frequent and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live and wreak havoc on people’s livelihoods and communities. As climate change worsens, dangerous weather events are becoming more frequent or severe.
Climate change is happening. The global average temperature has increased about 1.8°F from 1901 to 2016.1 Changes of one or two degrees in the average temperature of the planet can cause potentially dangerous shifts in climate and weather. These real, observable changes are what we call climate change impacts because they are the visible ways that climate change is affecting the Earth.
For example, many places have experienced changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves. The planet’s oceans and glaciers have also experienced changes — oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, ice caps are melting, and sea level is rising. As these and other changes become more pronounced in the coming decades, they will likely present challenges to our society and our environment.
WAYS IN WHICH CLIMATIC CHANGE HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR HEALTH
Climate change impacts our health, environment, and economy. For example:
- Warmer temperatures increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves which can pose health risks, particularly for young children and the elderly.
- The rising sea level threatens coastal communities and ecosystems.
- Changes in the patterns and amount of rainfall, as well as changes in the timing and amount of stream flow, can affect water supplies and water quality and the production of hydroelectricity.
- Changing ecosystems influence the geographic ranges of many plants and animal species and the timing of their lifecycle events, such as migration and reproduction.
- Increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, and floods, can increase losses to property, cause costly disruptions to society, and reduce the affordability of insurance.
Climate change is here, and it’s causing a wide range of impacts that will affect virtually every human on Earth in increasingly severe ways.
When carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere, it acts as a blanket, preventing heat from escaping. This buildup of CO2 leads to one of the most obvious impacts of climate change
Elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide will continue in the atmosphere for hundreds or thousands of years, so the earth will continue to warm in the coming decades. The warmer it gets, the greater the risk for more severe changes to the climate and the earth’s system. Although it’s difficult to predict the exact impacts of climate change, what’s clear is that the climate we are accustomed to is no longer a reliable guide for what to expect in the future, this is where adaptation comes to play which is the ability to cope or adjust to a particular situation.
Adaptation helps us prepare for some of the likely effects of climate change by reducing their impacts on ecosystems and people’s well-being. Examples of this include strengthening water conservation programs, upgrading stormwater systems, developing early warning systems for extreme heat events, and preparing for stronger storms through better emergency preparation and response strategies.
Sadly, collected weather data and periodic weather forecasts are not accessible in many world regions, especially in developing countries. How then, can they prepare and adapt to this fast-changing climate. The blockchain is known for hosting data and information decentrally, this is one effective way to ensure that information can be accessed by anyone, anywhere without restrictions.
Imagine a reality where blockchain technology can make weather data and forecasts accessible to anyone and everyone, it will be mind-blowing and amazing. Kanda Weather group comes in to play a big role in making weather information (weather data and forecast) available to masses who do not have weather analyzing numerical models in their region.
It is observed that unavailable weather and climate data that is decentralised and readily available to end-users in real-time will affect the ability of local communities to gather data for decision-making affecting their economic activities. This makes vulnerable communities and children unable to plan and reduce adverse weather conditions such as drought, floods, and storms in both the short and long term.
As a fast-growing protocol, Kanda Weather Group is reaching out to more cities daily to ensure that weather information is accessible. At the moment, Kanda Weather is available in five (5) locations across Africa where they launch weather balloons for timely analysis and report of atmospheric conditions for effective weather forecasting.
All hail Kanda Weather!