This past year has seen worsening heatwaves, droughts, and floods across the world and in nearly every case, the most vulnerable, the poorest, paid the greatest price, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) reported Wednesday.Floods in Pakistan displaced 33 million people and submerged a third of the country; the economic toll is at $30 billion.
The unprecedented fifth season of failed rains across East Africa means a loss of crops, herds, and livelihoods & over 36 million people are facing extreme hunger, and famine is imminent, IRC stated.According to the organization, the past year should serve as a reality check for international negotiators at this month's COP27.In line with this, and ahead of COP27, the IRC has called on global leaders to set out clear, time bound action plans to realize the increased ambitions on mitigation, adaptation, and finance, prioritizing communities living in fragile and conflict-affected states.The cost of doing too little is evident in the regions where the IRC works, the organization stated.David Miliband, IRC President and CEO, said: &The risks of the climate crisis are globalized, but resilience against the climate crisis is localized & left to the task of people and communities, even as climate events become more frequent and more intense.This is a recipe for continued disaster, continued famine, and continued displacement.
The communities most vulnerable to the extreme effects of our changing environment are the communities already affected by conflict, food insecurity, and the economic crisis, compounded by a global pandemic and the war in Ukraine,& he said.Shabnam Baloch, IRC Country Director for Pakistan said: &The devastating floods in Pakistan struck as the IRC was already working on helping communities through extreme heatwaves and droughts in the country, which has meant low crop yields, water shortages, and loss of livestock.Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change, with 80% of our people depending on agriculture for their livelihoods.
The country is also facing an economic crisis with historic inflation.
These factors are providing a challenge for people to cope and recover.At COP27, it is imperative for the world and leadership to come together to deliver humanitarian relief assistance to the worst affected communities and to plan development with climate change — and people at the frontlines of the climate crisis — in mind,& he said.This year's United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP27, will be the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference and takes place from Sunday November 6 to November 18 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.The post Global inaction is the harsh reality for communities on frontline of climate crisis first appeared on Ariana News.