Heat’s Health Risks: A Vital Awareness
By Sudarvizhi
Where is spring? What is causing the temperature to be higher than the typical spring average? Very year, we experience fluctuations in seasons and temperatures due to climate changes. During the summer, heightened temperatures expose us to unseen diseases and health concerns, impacting our well-being. Heat has important indirect health effects. We often fail to take the health effects of heat seriously due to a lack of awareness. With the increasing variability in temperatures and heatwaves, it’s imperative to show concern not only during the rainy season but also throughout the summer months.”
Heat conditions can alter human behaviour and the transmission of diseases. The scale and nature of the health impacts of heat depend on the timing, intensity and duration of a temperature event, the level of conditioning and the adaptability of the local population, infrastructure and institutions to the prevailing climate. Many individuals face increased vulnerability to extreme temperatures due to their residency in urban areas, where summer temperatures tend to be more severe compared to suburban and rural regions. Humidity is impacted by intensifying heat stress. High humidity amplifies the body’s perception of warmth, making it more challenging for the body to regulate its temperature during hot and humid conditions. This heightened exposure to high temperatures poses a significant risk of occupational heat stress, impacting those working outdoors in hot environments or participating in physical activities.
Elevating global ambient temperatures have an impact on all communities. Nevertheless, certain groups face higher exposure or possess greater physiological or socio-economic susceptibility to stress, aggravated illnesses, and a heightened risk of fatality due to excessive heat exposure. These vulnerable groups comprise the elderly, infants, children, pregnant women, outdoor labourers, manual workers, athletes, and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Temperatures exceeding 37.3°C pose a significant risk of heat stress to individuals, particularly those in vulnerable demographics who are heavily exposed to sunlight or work in hot environments. Additionally, disadvantaged individuals lacking adequate shelter and basic amenities, as well as those who are socially isolated and lack access to cooling facilities, face heightened susceptibility to heat-related illnesses. Gender plays an important role in the level of heat exposure experienced by individuals.
A study by Anna University’s Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management reveals that the state has experienced a 41.5% rise in the average number of heat-caused discomfort days across 39 districts since 2014, a trend expected to continue until 2050. Reduced vegetation and vehicle emissions are contributing to urban heat. Dr. S. Chandrasekar, who heads the Department of Medicine at Stanley Medical College Hospital, emphasized to the Times of India that heat strokes are expected to become more frequent alongside dehydration. This trend could result in exhaustion, particularly among senior citizens. (padmaja, 2024).
“For instance, data given by the health ministry to the Lok Sabha on July 23, 2023 stated that at least 264 people have died across 14 states due to heatwaves the year as of June 30, 2023.”
Source:https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health
People still need to be more aware of the health dangers associated with heat waves and prolonged exposure to higher temperatures. Health professionals should adapt their strategies and actions to consider the rising temperatures and heat waves. Implementing practical, achievable, and often inexpensive measures at individual, community, organizational, governmental, and societal levels can make a significant difference in saving lives.
Environmental Issues in an Economics Perspective: Brief account on access to through Policy Interventions.
Environmental issues and climate changes have a predominant effect on economies in a global context. Causing social inequalities and consequences, especially in lower-middle-income countries. The adverse effects collapse the structure, status, and functionality of societies. It is incredibly complex to precisely chart the sort of social issues it triggers and have radical policy implementation that addresses them. For instance, child marriages and forced marriages in Indian societies have increased due to droughts and lack of access to fresh water, which enables external actors and policymakers to engage in conversations about the status of women in the state and gender inequality. This changes the entire course and invokes human rights violations, such as disruptions in literacy, early pregnancies, and Marital rape which in a legal context, countries like India do not recognize marital rape as forced intercourse.
Economic imbalances are drawn in the informal sector considering the astronomical data of the informal sectors existing in the global south. Climate Injustices have been prevalent ever since the emergence of industrialism especially affecting marginalized and indigenous communities. The growing amount of bilateral investment treaties between states in the global south and powerful transnational corporations involved. The BITs largely restrict states from exercising their authority even in a matter of conflict. The powerful corporations, represented by elite lawyers from the global north sue poor economies for violating their agreement. Poor countries where the population suffers to access even basic needs such as health, pay it through their tax hence affecting the entire budget and eventually the economy. In situations like these, the role of external actors becomes highly significant. There are many external actors, especially the NGOs where NGOs demand due diligence reports and monitor the corporation’s actions in relevance with the United Nations guided principles (UNGP) and demand these corporations respond to the accusations made and also guide states to uphold their obligations to protect human rights. The significance of reparations has also increased, meaning the focus is multifaceted.
Some of the Economic Approaches can be to focus on social welfare aspects of the state. Which is the efficient model?
There is a direct link between the environment and the markets. The key is reallocation of resources. This is a unique strategy from a utilitarian perspective. It suggests bettering the status of at least one individual instead of triggering anything that worsens one’s status. The notion of environmental assets is attributed to the well-being as well as the future of economic growth. The debate about depleting natural resources and how it is not rational to consider economic growth without sustainable practices. Hence incorporating sustainable practices along with reallocating resources, these strategies can benefit overall economic growth and well-being without any adverse consequences.
To point out the Main market failures in environmental economies concerning Climate change mitigation, the best way to conceptualize is by engaging with a paper written by Hardin(1986) where he addresses concerns over public goods. Kindleberger (1986) defines global public goods as “all the goods accessible to all the countries which do not necessarily have an individual interest in producing them.” An appropriate example of common good problems is climate change mitigation. It links with the increase in industrialization. States must participate in collective action to mitigate the climate crisis and environmental consequences.
Some effective and efficient Policy approaches could be, Increasing the tax thresholds but tax as a new subject has many downfalls to consider and is heavily interlinked with politicians. Taxes and politics are better approached from a pragmatic point of view considering the negativity it brings. New taxes are highly complex to pass. It is also to consider the capitalist nation’s dynamics. Implementing Environmental regulations where the states intend to assess the impacts from an economic point of view by conducting a comprehensive cost/benefit analysis. One of the biggest economic barriers is the aspect of financing.
International monetary institutions like the world or regional developmental banks fund and assist states that deal with major economic crises. Before the topic of climate debt, it is necessary to take it with a pinch of salt and engage about it. Eichengreen mentions that “The international monetary system is the glue that binds national economies”.Economists claim that the global South engages in fiscal practices where they either end up borrowing too much or lending too much. This results in the global south subsequently barring the majority of the risks. The other factors of fluctuations in income rate etc. It is not rocket science to identify why the global South cannot repay what is owed. Climate debt raises tensions between the global south and the global north. Climate debt is associated with the decolonial approach to environmental issues.Petermann(2009) says “ Recognition that the historical responsibility for the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions lies with the industrialized countries of the global north’’.
The Green Growth Agenda, according to The OECD definition ‘Fostering economic growth and development while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environmental services on which our well-being relies’ (OECD 2011, p. 18). The need to consume energy is inevitable but the urgent necessity to achieve climate stabilization is equally imperative, Economies need to have a green deal in a way that enables the growth of the economy and also achieves absolute decoupling. According to the OECD “Decoupling occurs when the growth rate of an environmental pressure is less than that of its economic driving force (e.g. GDP) over a given period. Decoupling can be either absolute or relative. Absolute decoupling is said to occur when the environmentally relevant variable is stable or decreasing while the economic driving force is growing.
It is evident that states have to act together to mitigate climate change and the crisis is the result of the limitation in the economies that has multiple dimensions such as politicization and so forth. Collective social action, implementing economic policy approaches, and enforcing climatic soft law instruments into legal binding is highly imperative in stabilizing climatic conditions and, therefore, economies in the international world order.
Bibliography
O’Neill, John. “Markets and the Environment: The Solution Is the Problem.” Economic and Political Weekly 36, no. 21 (2001): 1865–73. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4410667.
https://www.econport.org/content/handbook/Environmental/pollution-control-revised/Disadvantages.html#:~:text=The%20largest%20detraction%20to%20green,determine%20and%20is%20continually%20changing.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a799f30ed915d0422069d36/pb13390-economic-growth-100305.pdf
Ocampo, J.A. 2017. Resetting the International Monetary (Non)System. Oxford: Oxford University Press – Chapter
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Global crisis and beyond Sustainable growth trajectories for the developing world Jayati GHOSH
Spatial and Other “Fixes” of Historical Capitalism by Giovanni Arrighi
December’s disaster dials –
Chennai’s floods and its planning paralysis for sustainable solutions
By Anushri Muthusamy
It’s summer, and did we forget about the yearly floods again? December’s diabolical present is not new to the city but only often forgotten or washed away with city’s other puzzled priorities. Throughout its history, Chennai has faced a range of disasters, both related to climate and other factors. Over time, the incidence of disasters, particularly floods and droughts, has escalated, significantly impacting the city’s populace, economy, and infrastructure. While strategic urban planning, efficient water management, and collaborative governance can mitigate certain risks, Chennai must also be prepared to effectively respond to disasters as they occur. It is crucial to prioritize the needs of vulnerable communities and small enterprises, which are often the hardest hit by such events. Michaung Cyclone that took the stage during 2023 is yet another reminder of systemic paralysis of City’s resource management. Beyond health camps organized in the aftermath of floods and the provision of relief resources to citizens, there remains ambiguity regarding the government’s long-term strategies for reshaping disaster management.
What do they mean when they say tilt the light towards “Preparedness”? how disaster prepared must the metropolitan be and on what scale? In its quest for resilience, Chennai often neglects to confront the root causes and inherent inequalities integral to the process. One of the major root causes is the land dynamics devouring wetlands. It’s essential to understand the synthesis of land usage undercurrents and systemic synergy of hypocritic evacuations near waterbodies Rather than merely bracing or preparing Chennai for recurring disasters, let’s redirect our focus towards comprehending why these crises intensify annually and where our year-round practices fall short.
In 2023 December, The Datajam, in collaboration with the Information and Resource Centre for Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC) and the Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG), aimed to shed light on critical issues by analysing available data, including crowd-sourced and government data on past floods, storm-water drains, and elevation. Their goal was to pinpoint systemic issues and propose potential remedies. They highlighted Chennai’s rapid urbanization over the past two decades, observing that as more buildings emerge, they become increasingly susceptible to flooding, particularly those situated near existing streams.
One of the team also emphasized the encroachment on water bodies due to plotted development, citing instances of blocked transit canals, silted canals, and government-led encroachments, such as the ELCOT and NIOT projects in Sholinganallur, which encroached upon significant portions of the Pallikaranai Marshland. They underscored the importance of regulating land usage and revenue records transparently and ensuring accountability to prevent further conversion of watersheds and water bodies. Urgent measures, including demarcating existing water bodies, establishing flood zones, and halting the resettlement of flood-prone individuals into similar areas, were deemed necessary.
Buildings affected by flooding
The report by CAG highlighted the escalating numbers of elite wetland encroachments since the 2015 floods, illustrating Chennai’s discriminatory eviction and resettlement practices, exacerbating both flooding and living conditions. True wetland reclamation, the report argued, would necessitate the removal of real estate developments. The data revealed a concerning trend where Chennai’s floods serve as opportunities for elite real estate development while marginalized communities are forcibly relocated to inadequate housing within wetlands. Notably, affluent encroachers on wetlands, such as Arihant, IT buildings, and Hiranandani, remain largely untouched.
In the absence of demarcated Flood Prone Zones (FPZ) and clear specifications for offset space requirements in the Development Regulations of the State Master Plan (SMP) and Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Building Rules of 1972, the approvals for construction of buildings in urban areas of the state are governed. According to Rule 7, if a construction site is within 15 meters of a water body, water course, or well, necessary measures must be taken to protect the water body as directed by the executive authority.
However, the report highlights a blatant disregard for existing rules and committee recommendations. Despite the guidelines, CMDA continued to grant planning permissions for buildings within the 15-meter buffer zone of water bodies without implementing any mitigating measures to prevent harm to these water bodies. The following table in the report illustrates numerous instances where buildings approved by CMDA were located within 15 meters of waterways. Consequently, these buildings were submerged during the floods of 2015, exacerbating the inundation of surrounding neighbourhoods.
What terminology distinguishes marginalized settlements as “encroachers,” while upscale real estate developments are labelled as “Lake view apartments”? A report from ICDUC underscores “Placing people in the paths of floods and ecologically sensitive areas in the guise of restoring waterways has only multiplied the vulnerabilities of communities that were already struggling because of the resettlements”
It’s imperative to halt and reassess the complexities surrounding flood management, identifying the true stakeholders and those burdened by its costs. Policy frameworks solely geared towards crisis management have consistently proven ineffective and short-lived. Marginalized communities, MSMEs, and other vulnerable groups bear the brunt of disasters, yet repeating the same errors post-crisis exacerbates the situation. There must be a clear mandate to denounce elite real estate ventures, as marginalized communities are unjustly displaced into substandard housing within wetlands. Rather than solely focusing on post-disaster management plans, it is equally, if not more, crucial to identify the ongoing shortcomings in land use dynamics and their impact on the environment.
REFERENCE
https://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/press_release/pr280224_410.pdf : accessed on 23/03/2024: at 10:00 am
https://www.ceew.in/publications/tamil-nadu-greenhouse-gas-inventory-net-zero-transition-and-climate-change : accessed on: 24/03/2024 at 11:23 pm
https://www.ceew.in/publications/per-capita-co2-emissions-and-carbon-footprint-inequities-across-countries-and-income-classes: accessed on: 24/03/2024 at 10: 00pm
https://tnpcb.gov.in/air-quality.php: accessed on: 24/03/2024 at 12:00 am
https://www.statista.com/statistics/630122/electricity-generation-india/: accessed on: 25/03/2024 at 12:pm
https://www.statista.com/topics/8881/emissions-in-india/#topicOverview :25/03/2024 at 5: 00pm
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Jan/09/tn-to-release-ghg-inventory-next-month-to-finalise-sector-specific-decarbonisation-pathways-2649200.html: accessed on: 25/03/2024 at 7:00 pm
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Feb/29/tn-greenhouse-gas-report-77-emissions-from-energy-sector-long-road-to-achieve-net-zero : accessed on: 26/03/2024 at 12: 00pm
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tangedcos-co2-emission-up-by-33-from-2017-to-2022-reveals-report/articleshow/106848752.cms : accessed on 26/03/2024 at 3:00 pm
https://www.tangedco.org/en/tangedco/about-us/tn-glance/: accessed on: 27/03/2024 at 10:00 pm
https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/chennais-pollution-emissions-could-go-27-2030-report-181671: accessed on: 27/03/2024 at 11:00 am
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/govt-releases-climate-action-plan-for-chennai-to-become-carbon-neutral-by-2050/article66965200.ece : accessed on 27/03/2024 at 12:00 pm
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By Manimala C
Ennore, a bustling industrial hub located in the northern part of Chennai, India, presents a clash between industrial growth and environmental justice. The community, particularly the women, bear the brunt of man-made environmental hazards, prompting a closer examination of the gendered impact of these environmental issues.
Ennore is home to several mega industries, including Coromandel International Limited, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited, and various foundry units, in addition to the North Chennai Thermal Power Station. The industrial cluster also accommodates ash ponds, two ports, fertilizer manufacturing industries, pharmaceutical companies, oil storage terminals, coal storage yards, foundries, cement manufacturers and construction works.
This industrial boom, while contributing to economic growth, has unfortunately turned the area into a hotspot for environmental pollution.
The rapid industrialization in Ennore over the past few decades has had a devastating impact on the local environment. The air is dense with toxic gases, the houses layered with dust, and the once-clear waters of the Kosasthalaiyar River are now polluted with industrial effluents.
The problem is further compounded by the dumping of fly ash and hot water from the thermal power stations into the river, disrupting the aquatic ecosystem and affecting the livelihood of local fishermen. This environmental degradation has taken a toll on the health and wellbeing of the local community.
The residents of Ennore, particularly women, bear the brunt of this pollution. They grapple with numerous health issues, ranging from respiratory illnesses and skin ailments to infertility and cancer. The women of Ennore frequently recount their experiences of living in constant fear due to the health risks associated with residing in a polluted environment.
The economic impact of pollution is equally severe. With the river’s ecosystem disrupted, the catch for local fishermen has dwindled, leading to economic instability. The uncertain livelihoods and deteriorating health, coupled with the lack of adequate healthcare facilities, have plunged these women into a state of deep distress.
The pollution in Ennore has far-reaching consequences, impacting the community in ways that often go unnoticed. The pollution-filled Kosasthalai River has become a death trap for local fishermen, leading to accidents and fatalities. This has forced many women to take up low-paying jobs to support their families.
The situation has also led to a rise in alcoholism among men in the community, increasing the burden on women and exacerbating their psychological stress. The trials and tribulations of the women of Ennore highlight the indirect effects of pollution on a community.
The situation in Ennore underscores the need for environmental justice. The industrial pollution and the resulting health and economic issues faced by the community highlight the need for accountability and remediation.
The community, particularly the women, are calling for the restoration of the Ennore Industrial Cluster and the implementation of stringent regulations to monitor and control industrial emissions and the shutdown of the fertiliser industry since the recent ammonia leak incident
Conclusion
The story of Ennore serves as a stark reminder of the gendered impact of environmental hazards. The women of Ennore, caught in the crossfire of industrial growth and environmental degradation, are a testament to the need for environmental justice.
While the industries might have brought economic growth to the region, the environmental, health, and economic costs borne by the local community, particularly the women, underscore the need for a more sustainable and inclusive approach to development.
References
https://www.dtnext.in/news/city/from-infertility-to-cancer-ennore-women-list-woes-758243
https://citizenmatters.in/pollution-and-livelihood-loss-effect-on-women-of-ennore/
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