Latest news with #IngerAndersen
Hans India
2 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Extreme heat put older people at high risk, warns UN report
New Delhi: As extreme heat grips many countries and becomes "the new normal", the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warned of heightened health risks for older persons in the Frontiers 2025 Report published on Thursday. Other highlighted impacts of climate change include the melting of glaciers that reawaken ancient pathogens and floods that risk releasing dangerous chemicals. The seventh edition of the Frontiers Report, The Weight of Time - Facing a new age of challenges for people and ecosystems, is part of UNEP's Foresight Trajectory initiative and highlights emerging environmental issues as well as potential solutions. The first edition in 2016 warned of the growing risk of zoonotic diseases, four years before the COVID-19 pandemic. This report is released as communities across China, Japan, India, Europe, the US and elsewhere face weeks of extreme heat and flooding. "Heat waves are among the most frequent and deadly impacts of climate change, along with floods and shrinking ice cover," said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. "We must be prepared for the risks these impacts pose, especially for society's most vulnerable, including older persons. Yet as this year's Frontiers Report shows, solutions exist that can help protect communities and restore ecosystems long thought to have been lost," Anderson said. Adults aged 65 and above now form an increasingly dominant part of the world population, particularly in urban areas of low- and middle-income countries. The report notes that annual heat-related deaths among older people have risen by an estimated 85 per cent since the 1990s. Additional risks arise from deteriorating air quality and floods in low-lying coastal cities where older people live. Older people, especially those with chronic illnesses, limited mobility, or frailty, are particularly vulnerable to heat-related health issues, including respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases, as well as increased mortality. The report recommends making cities pollution-free, resilient, and accessible spaces with expansive vegetation. Key strategies include better urban planning, community-based disaster risk management, and improved access to climate information for older populations. Earlier this year, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a new resolution to develop an "international legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons", a possible path to add safety to those most exposed to climate change. Beyond the risks to older people, the report also warns of ancient microbes awakening. Should global temperatures rise more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, this would significantly reduce the cryosphere in mass, which includes glaciers, seasonal snow, ice sheets and shelves, sea ice, seasonally frozen ground, and permafrost. The report also identifies risks from the remobilisation of chemicals that were banned and phased out decades ago. Floods can bring such chemicals to the surface after having accumulated in sediment over centuries. Another emerging threat the Frontiers 2025 Report addresses is the risk of ageing dams. Alongside many benefits, dams can harm indigenous and fishing-dependent communities, as well as degrade ecosystems. Removal of large, older dams that have become unsafe, obsolete, or economically unviable is increasingly happening in Europe and North America. The report highlights potential benefits of the removal of dams and barriers in restoring natural river connectivity for biodiversity and ecosystems. Reversing river fragmentation and restoring natural processes support the implementation of the UN's principles for ecosystem-restoration initiatives.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
UN report: Older people at particular risk from climate change
Elderly people are at particular risk from the consequences of climate change, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a report on Thursday. "Heat waves are among the most frequent and deadly impacts of climate change, along with floods and shrinking ice cover,' said Inger Andersen, the UNEP's executive director. 'We must be prepared for the risks these impacts pose, especially for society's most vulnerable, including older persons.' Annual heat-related deaths among older people have risen by around 85% since the 1990s. Older people - especially those suffering from chronic illnesses or frailty and with limited mobility - are particularly susceptible to heat-related health problems, including respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The mortality rate is also higher in this group. The combination of heat and high humidity, which is already being observed during heatwaves in some tropical regions, is particularly dangerous for elderly people. Warming cities are also increasingly problematic, especially as the urban population is increasing worldwide.
Canada News.Net
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Canada News.Net
Deadly Europe heatwave shuts reactor, fuels fires and warnings
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly consequences and widespread disruption from Spain to Switzerland. At least eight people have died — including four in Spain, two in France, and two in Italy — as intense heat sparked wildfires, overwhelmed hospitals, and forced the shutdown of critical infrastructure, including a nuclear reactor in Switzerland, officials said on July 2. Spanish authorities reported two fatalities from a wildfire in Catalonia, while other heat-related deaths occurred in Extremadura and Cordoba. In France, 300 people were hospitalized due to the extreme heat, and the Energy Minister confirmed two related deaths. Italy, which issued red alerts for 18 cities, reported two beach deaths in Sardinia involving men over 60, according to the ANSA news agency. In Germany, forecasts showed temperatures could climb to 40°C (104°F) in some regions — the hottest day of the year — while Meteo France warned of ongoing red alerts across central France. "In the coming days, we'll see the consequences, particularly on the most vulnerable, and I'm thinking particularly of the elderly," said France's Health and Families Minister Catherine Vautrin. The heat also intensified wildfire risks in Turkey, where around 50,000 people had to be temporarily evacuated earlier this week. Officials said most fires have since been contained. Authorities in Italy, France, and Germany warned of potential violent storms, citing unstable atmospheres due to excessive warming. One such storm caused mudslides in the French Alps, disrupting rail traffic between Paris and Milan. Switzerland's Axpo suspended operations at one unit of the Beznau nuclear plant and reduced output at another due to high river water temperatures, which are critical for cooling systems. The heat is also expected to hit Europe's economy, with Allianz Research estimating a slowdown of 0.5 percentage points in 2025. The report likened the financial toll of one day above 32°C to that of half a day of strikes. Scientists say earlier and more extreme heatwaves are being fuelled by greenhouse gas emissions, warming oceans, and a persistent heat dome over Europe that traps hot air masses. "Extreme heat is testing our resilience and putting the health and lives of millions at risk," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. "Our new climate reality means we can no longer be surprised when temperatures reach record highs each year." The impact is already visible: Greggs in the UK warned of lower profits as hot weather kept customers away. In Germany, many schools shut early, people rushed to swimming pools and lakes, and firefighters battled multiple forest blazes in Brandenburg and Saxony. Elsewhere, tourist landmarks also felt the heat. The upper floor of the Eiffel Tower was closed on July 1, and Brussels' Atomium shut early for the third time this week. Spain saw its hottest June on record, while France experienced its hottest since 2003.
Observer
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Oman hosts virtual meet for UN Environment Assembly
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Environment Authority, hosted a joint virtual preparatory meeting in preparation for the 7th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from December 8-12, 2025. The meeting was attended by Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority. The meeting discussed the latest developments regarding the draft ministerial declaration for UNEA-7, which aims to advance sustainable solutions to global environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. The participants also reviewed a draft guide for the mechanism of submitting proposed resolutions by member states, presented by the UNEA-7 Secretariat, along with guidelines for draft resolutions. The meeting examined a concept note on organising a dedicated day for multilateral environmental agreements to enhance their role and improve coordination among relevant stakeholders. Additionally, the session addressed organisational arrangements and proposed topics for leadership and stakeholder dialogues during the assembly, aimed at fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange. The draft communication strategy for the session was also reviewed, which seeks to highlight the assembly's themes and raise awareness of environmental issues. On the sidelines of the meeting, a virtual dialogue session was held with representatives of major groups and stakeholders to gather their input on ongoing preparations, ensuring inclusive and representative decisions that reflect civil society perspectives. This meeting marks a significant step towards strengthening international cooperation to address environmental challenges and ensuring the success of UNEA-7. The session was attended by several ministers, ambassadors, members of the assembly's Bureau, the Bureau of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the UN Environment Programme, and Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the Programme. - ONA
Japan Today
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Japan Today
Heatwave across Europe leaves 8 dead
Four people died in Spain, two in France and two in Italy as an early summer heatwave continued to grip much of Europe on Wednesday, triggering health alerts and forest fires and forcing the closure of a nuclear reactor at a Swiss power plant. Spanish officials said a wildfire in Catalonia had killed two people a day earlier, and authorities reported heatwave-linked deaths also in Extremadura and Cordoba. France's energy minister reported two deaths linked to the heat, with 300 others taken to hospital. Italy issued red alerts for 18 cities, while in Germany temperatures were forecast to peak at 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas, making it the hottest day of the year. Two men over the age of 60 died in separate incidents on the beach in Sardinia from the heat, ANSA news agency reported. Weather forecaster Meteo France said red alerts remained for several areas of central France. The risks were greatest for vulnerable members of the population, and Catherine Vautrin, France's health and families minister, said authorities should remain vigilant. "In the coming days, we'll see the consequences, particularly on the most vulnerable, and I'm thinking particularly of the elderly," she said. Turkey, which battled blazes on several fronts forcing the temporary evacuation of about 50,000 people earlier in the week, said its fires were largely contained. Tuesday's fire in the Catalonia region of Spain destroyed several farms and affected an area stretching about 40 km (25 miles) before being contained, officials said. STORMS AHEAD, REACTOR SHUT Italy, France and Germany warned of the risk of heavy storms due to excessive warming in unstable atmospheres. Violent storms in the French Alps late on Monday triggered mudslides, disrupting rail traffic between Paris and Milan. Swiss utility Axpo shut down one reactor unit at the Beznau nuclear power plant and halved output at another on Tuesday because of the high temperature of river water. Water is used for cooling and other purposes at nuclear power plants, and restrictions were expected to continue as temperatures are monitored. The extreme heat would likely impact the region's economic growth, which was expected to slow by half a percentage point in 2025, Allianz Research said in a report, likening the financial toll of one day with temperatures exceeding 32 C to half a day of strikes. Scientists say heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10 C (50 F) in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses. 'TESTING OUR RESILIENCE' Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are a cause of climate change, they say, with deforestation and industrial practices being other contributing factors. Last year was the planet's hottest on record. "Extreme heat is testing our resilience and putting the health and lives of millions at risk," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Program. "Our new climate reality means we can no longer be surprised when temperatures reach record highs each year." Allianz Research's warning of a dent in economic activity due to the heat rang true for some businesses. British baker Greggs warned on Wednesday its annual profit could dip below last year's levels as the unusually hot UK temperatures discourage customers from eating out. In Germany, people flocked to open air swimming pools and lakes to cool off, with many schools across the country closed. The fire brigade was tackling several forest fires in the eastern states of Brandenburg and Saxony. The upper floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris was shut to visitors on Tuesday, while the iconic Atomium in Brussels, an atom-like structure made of stainless steel, closed early on Wednesday as a precaution, its third early closure this week. Spain experienced its hottest June on record this year, and France had its hottest June since 2003. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
