CABAR.asia
Abnormal heat in Central Asia:
society must take this problem seriously
Since early June 2021, weather forecasters in all Central Asian states report abnormal heat. According to experts, the average air temperature in the region will be increasing every year.
According to the Centre for Climate Change and Ozone Layer Research of Tajikistan referring to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the air temperature in Central Asia has increased by 2 degrees in the last 100 years.
"According to the UN, the rise in air temperature in much of the region has been recorded more in winter than in summer. However, it should be noted that monitoring of climate change and its consequences in Central Asia is not sufficient and further studies must be held to clarify this issue, including in mountainous regions," according to the Centre's report.
According to the Centre for Climate Change and Ozone Layer Research of Tajikistan referring to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the air temperature in Central Asia has increased by 2 degrees in the last 100 years.
"According to the UN, the rise in air temperature in much of the region has been recorded more in winter than in summer. However, it should be noted that monitoring of climate change and its consequences in Central Asia is not sufficient and further studies must be held to clarify this issue, including in mountainous regions," according to the Centre's report.
The IPCC has prepared three forecasts of climate change for the Central Asian region.
Which of them will be closer to the reality depends on several factors:
1. The degree of carbon dioxide emissions in Central Asian states by 2055. In other words, if the number of enterprises polluting the environment in the region is going to increase or decrease.
2. The increase in the number of cars produced by 2055.
1. The degree of carbon dioxide emissions in Central Asian states by 2055. In other words, if the number of enterprises polluting the environment in the region is going to increase or decrease.
2. The increase in the number of cars produced by 2055.
According to the Climate Change Centre experts, if enterprises, especially cement plants, power plants and TPPs are not equipped with air purifiers, the situation may become even worse than their forecasts.
At the same time, the World Bank predicts that the average temperature in Central Asia may increase by 6 degrees Celsius in the nearest decades. It will lead to the disappearance of more than one-third of glaciers by 2050 and to the shortage of water in the region, respectively.
High air temperatures have a negative impact on people. According to the World Bank experts, studies showed that the threshold of human body to regulate temperature is +35 °C. Even if this threshold is surpassed within a short period of time, it can lead to the risk of deterioration in health and even death.
According to the experts of the "Global Heat Health Information Network", rapid rise in heat gain compromises the body's ability to regulate temperature, and can result in a cascade of illnesses including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and hyperthermia. Temperature extremes can also worsen chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular disease and diabetes-related conditions.
At the same time, the World Bank predicts that the average temperature in Central Asia may increase by 6 degrees Celsius in the nearest decades. It will lead to the disappearance of more than one-third of glaciers by 2050 and to the shortage of water in the region, respectively.
High air temperatures have a negative impact on people. According to the World Bank experts, studies showed that the threshold of human body to regulate temperature is +35 °C. Even if this threshold is surpassed within a short period of time, it can lead to the risk of deterioration in health and even death.
According to the experts of the "Global Heat Health Information Network", rapid rise in heat gain compromises the body's ability to regulate temperature, and can result in a cascade of illnesses including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and hyperthermia. Temperature extremes can also worsen chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular disease and diabetes-related conditions.
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Firdavs Raupov, doctor of the Republican Training and Clinical Centre for Nursing of Tajikistan, said that people with asthma, disturbed circulation, and generally people older than 65 should not go outside if the outdoor temperature is more than 38 degrees. Adolescents and young people should not swim in lakes and rivers in hot weather. Moreover, according to him, you should not stay in an air conditioner for long hours, it can lead to pneumonia.
He advises to people to drink a lot of water in hot weather, but not cold water from the fridge. Drinking too cold water in hot weather can damage respiratory and digestive organs and lead to gastrointestinal infections, Raupov said.
Another recommendation from the doctor is about food. In hot weather, you should not eat food that was not refrigerated 2-3 hours after it was cooked. Food taints readily in hot weather, unless it is refrigerated, which can lead to intestinal infections.
He advises to people to drink a lot of water in hot weather, but not cold water from the fridge. Drinking too cold water in hot weather can damage respiratory and digestive organs and lead to gastrointestinal infections, Raupov said.
Another recommendation from the doctor is about food. In hot weather, you should not eat food that was not refrigerated 2-3 hours after it was cooked. Food taints readily in hot weather, unless it is refrigerated, which can lead to intestinal infections.
Photo: vision.kz / Almaty
Photo: sputnik.kg / Bishkek
Photo: Umida Ahmedova / Tashkent
According to Dana Yermalyonok, senior advisor, CRED programme of the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), prevention of global heating demands concerted efforts of all countries. The states of the region must, on the one hand, take part in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, and, on the other hand, adapt to ongoing changes.
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"Even if we stop emitting greenhouses gases tomorrow, the effect of it won't be instantaneous. We'll have to deal with the consequences anyway. Therefore, it's like different sides of the same coin – to reduce emissions and to adapt," said Yermalyonok.
She added that one of the main directions of efforts made by the global community is switching from traditional methods of power generation related to carbon combustion to alternative energy forms – use of solar batteries, wind, tidal, geothermic power plants, etc.
At the end of May, Kazakhstan made a very important statement by saying it was willing to switch by 2060 to carbon neutrality or zero greenhouse gas emissions. For this purpose, the use of fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas, must be reduced significantly, and emissions in other areas must be reduced as well.
At the end of May, Kazakhstan made a very important statement by saying it was willing to switch by 2060 to carbon neutrality or zero greenhouse gas emissions. For this purpose, the use of fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas, must be reduced significantly, and emissions in other areas must be reduced as well.
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CABAR.asia
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Natalia Lee
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Tolgonai Akimova
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Умида Ахмедова
