Opinion by Zakia Aziz
Climate change has become a significant challenge for the world. There is no doubt that the primary cause of global warming is the developed, industrialised nations, while the countries of the Third World are paying the price. Among the nations most affected by the resulting climate change, Pakistan ranks among the top.
While the extent of damage and the challenges Pakistan is facing due to climate change are not the topic under discussion right now, I currently have two different reports before me concerning climate change that are alarming enough to shake the global community from a public health perspective.
Let us first consider the report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) of the United Nations, which states that due to climate change, the annual average global temperature in 2024 was recorded, for the first time, to be 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial era. Thus, last year was declared the hottest year in human history, previously held by 2023, which now ranks second after 2024. However, according to the WMO, the next five years could prove to be even worse. The report indicates there is an 80% chance that at least one year within the next five years could surpass 2024 in temperature and become the hottest year on record.
In this regard, WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett stated that we have experienced the ten hottest years in just the past few years, and unfortunately, there is no relief in sight in the coming years. This means that the negative effects on our economy, daily life, the surrounding environment, and the planet as a whole will continue to worsen. It is worth noting that the 2015 Paris Agreement aimed to limit global temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, this threshold would only be considered breached if the average temperature over an entire decade, not just one or two years, exceeds 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The WMO has also forecasted that in the next five years, the Arctic region could experience warming at a rate 3.5 times higher than the global average, resulting in further reduction in sea ice levels.
Now let’s turn to the second report, which is based on research conducted at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. It states that due to environmental changes, the intensity of heat is continuously increasing worldwide, and its effects are impacting not only physical health but also mental health. According to the report, the heat health action plans developed in various countries largely overlook the mental health consequences of extreme heat or fail to incorporate effective and practical measures to address them.
The research reviewed 83 health action plans from 24 countries. The results showed that while 75% of these plans generally mentioned mental health concerns, only 31% specifically addressed heat-related mental health issues such as suicide risk or psychological emergencies. Most of these plans lacked concrete measures or protective strategies. These statistics suggest that although mental health is recognised as an issue, there is still a dire need for clear, effective, and integrated strategies to address it.
Experts say that extreme heat can have adverse effects on mental health, including worsening depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances, increased economic stress and risk of homelessness, social isolation, and heightened psychological pressure. According to the researchers involved, even though it is now clear that intense heat affects mental health, this aspect has not been taken seriously enough in policymaking and planning.
This research is particularly important for countries where heat intensity is continuously rising, such as Pakistan. These countries should incorporate mental health risks into their heat health action plans, develop practical strategies in consultation with mental health professionals, and launch public awareness campaigns so that people can better take care of their mental health during periods of extreme heat. The research also clearly indicates that in this era of climate change, neglecting mental health could be a grave oversight.
What is urgently needed now is to ensure the protection of not only physical but also mental health through comprehensive planning to face the challenges of the future better.
There is a dire need for both the federal and provincial governments to formulate an environmental policy on an emergency basis in the context of the challenges posed by climate change, one that gives exceptional importance to physical and mental health. Merely setting up cold water or beverage stations on the streets during heat waves will no longer suffice. Solid, foundational steps must be taken now. Hospitals, urban health centres, and rural health centres must establish emergency counters for psychological issues alongside general healthcare services in response to increasing climate extremes.
Note: Zakia Aziz is a journalist and columnist.
