Global warming is increasing, which has serious consequences. The United Nations has warned that this warming is not only causing heatwaves or disrupting wildlife, but also disrupting the global climate system.
This means that heat waves, heavy rains, droughts and floods are becoming more frequent and severe. These changes are disrupting the environment and causing disruption across entire regions, with far-reaching impacts. The biggest impact is the growing threat of climate change to human health. In many ways, global warming puts our well-being at risk by destroying the vital link between a healthy environment and a healthy population. Floods and disease will be no more
according to reliefweb In 2023, floods caused by climate changes left at least 1,781 people dead, 242 were injured and thousands of people were displaced. This was due to the strong El Niño rains. Thirty-eight out of the country’s forty-seven counties were at risk of a combination of flooding, flash floods and landslides.
At the time of writing, more than 139,051 families had been affected, resulting in the displacement of 64,516 families. Infrastructure was destroyed, leading to problems with access to basic services such as health centers and schools. Locals also said that their livestock and businesses were lost, which resulted in the loss of their livelihoods.
Floods had also contaminated water sources with sewage, causing the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery. These diseases cause severe diarrhea, dehydration and sometimes even death, putting enormous pressure on an already strained health system.
2024 is not an exception with the heavy rains set to continue all through, this would alter with hot almost unbearable temperature across different parts of the country.
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The temperature rises, the spread of disease
As the weather worsens, it creates favorable conditions for disease vectors such as mosquitoes to breed. This leads to the rapid spread of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and the Zika virus, among others, putting great pressure on the health system which is struggling to cope with these increasing burdens. . Influenza is a major concern, dengue is on the rise, and Zika threatens pregnant women, causing disability. Drought, scarcity and malnutrition
The Horn of Africa clearly illustrates the impact of climate change on food security. The region has experienced frequent and severe droughts over the past decade, creating a vicious cycle. Water scarcity has severely affected agriculture, reducing crops and livestock production. This, in turn, has reduced food security, making people less able to eat. Malnutrition has become a growing concern, especially among children who depend on good nutrition for their development. A weak immune system makes them more susceptible to infections. Insects, which increase in number as temperatures rise, can damage crops and reduce yields, reducing harvests.
Suffocation from air pollution
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes more than 4,000 deaths every year in Nairobi. This public health problem is likely to be exacerbated by climate change. Rising temperatures can prevent pollution from spreading, leading to the formation of a layer of smoke. Additionally, extreme weather events, such as dust storms, can introduce new pollutants into the air. This polluted air is linked to respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis and lung cancer. Extreme weather, endless heart
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The increasing number of extreme weather events such as heat, floods and droughts are affecting psychological well-being due to uncertainty and stress. As a result of these tragedies, people can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety as they try to rebuild their lives. For example, Kenyans have faced great stress and anxiety in recent years due to floods and droughts, which can leave families struggling to put food on the table or wait face financial problems.
Damaged equipment, limited service
Extreme weather events such as floods, mudslides and storms can damage critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges and water utilities. This disruption can quickly lead to a large-scale crisis with far-reaching consequences. Damage to infrastructure can prevent access to essential services such as health and education. For example, damaged roads and bridges can become impassable, making it difficult for people to access health care and education. This can create dramatic effects that disrupt everyday life as we know it. Balance sheet
Climate change damages infrastructure, reduces agricultural productivity and increases financial burdens. Kenya is facing the economic challenges of climate change.
