The impact of climate change on health and food security with the Solomon Islands in mind.
Last week it was reported that the newly upgraded road near the Solomon Power House in Auki had deteriorated soon after it had been upgraded as a consequence of heavy rain experienced locally.
Also, last week, the Honiara water supply was restricted due to rain having increased turbulence in the supply from the main water source.
Such stories are hardly world news but of significant importance to communities in the Solomon Islands that experience difficulties following heavy rainfall and often flooding.
Some say increasing incidences of heavy rain and flooding are consistent in changed weather patterns influenced by man-made climate change. Others, on the other hand disclaim such opinions.
What is becoming increasingly evident, however, is that climate change is impacting in serious way in the Solomon Islands with growing reports of sea- rise having flooded inland causing soil erosion, loss of food gardens and crops.
In many communities sea-level rise means food production is badly affected and staple crops like taro cannot be planted because the soil has become too salty.
Salt water intrusion into previous fresh water supplies has stopped the cultivation of sweet potatoes and the growing of bananas in some areas, especially in Busa village in Malaita.
Clearly climate change is already threatening food security with the loss of food gardens.
There are other threats from climate change as I see the situation developing. I think particularly of the threats related to public health with the increasing risk of dengue fever and the spread of malaria.
In the Marshall Islands, as an example, a total of 2,456 cases of dengue were recorded as of the start of February this year
Variability in malaria incidence is known to be strongly linked with climate, in particular rainfall.
Writing generally about the impact of climate change, Ploy Achakulwisut, PhD, a scientist at the Stockholm Environment Institute, said (quote)
“Mounting scientific evidence has led experts to conclude that climate change presents “the biggest global health threat of the 21st century”. A recent study demonstrated that there are 467 different pathways by which human health, water, food, economy, infrastructure and security have already been impacted by climate hazards. Here are 8 major ways that climate change harms our health today and threatens it tomorrow:
“1.The frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms are increasing due to climate change.
The most well-known and visible manifestation of climate change to date is probably the increasing volatility of extreme weather events worldwide, causing deaths, injuries, debilitating and fatal diseases, and displacement. Researchers have estimated that climate-related disasters caused 2.52 million deaths globally between 1980 and 2013.
“2. As average temperatures continue to rise, so will heat-related disorders.
“In addition to heat waves, climate change is generally causing temperatures to rise, hot days to become more common, and summers to last longer.
“3. Climate change can exacerbate air pollution.
“Besides the fact that climate change and air pollution share many major common sources (fossil fuel and biomass burning), climate-driven changes in weather patterns and higher carbon dioxide levels could also worsen air quality in many regions of the world.
“4. Elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations are associated with decreased human cognitive performance.
“5. Climate change influences the transmission of vector-, food-, and water-borne diseases.
“Rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and sea-level rise can affect the abundance and distribution of vectors and the pathogens they transmit in both time (duration of transmission seasons) and space (extents in latitude and elevation). For example, warming temperatures have influenced the invasion of North America by West Nile virus and the spread of malaria to higher elevations in the East African Highlands Additionally, changes in weather patterns and infrastructure damage following extreme weather events can enhance the spread of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera and diarrheal diseases.
“6. Climate change threatens food and nutrition security.
While rising temperatures and CO2 levels might initially help some crops in certain regions, the overall outlook is negative. Global food demand is expected to increase by 14 percent per decade to 2050 whereas global crop yields are expected to decrease by 1–2 percent per decade, potentially leading to food scarcity, price shocks and social unrest.
The climate impacts on our food systems are multifold.
“7. Climate change will cause mass migration and most likely increase collective violence.
“Military experts warn that climate impacts are “threat multipliers” that will aggravate stressors such as environmental degradation and political instability in vulnerable regions, thereby catalyzing conflict. Historically, water shortages and temperature/precipitation extremes are associated with increased conflict and sociopolitical instability.
“8. Climate change poses threats to our mental health and well-being.
These impacts can occur through multiple direct and indirect pathways. For example, extreme weather events are associated with a wide range of mental health problems, including acute and post-traumatic stress disorders, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, and child or spousal abuse. The destruction and loss of homelands due to climate impacts may diminish the sense of belonging and solace that people derive from their connectedness to the land (an effect that has been termed “solastalgia”). In addition, indirect mental health effects may occur following declines in personal physical health or community wellbeing.”
On the world stage, tackling climate change presents a great threat to global heath and increasingly climate change needs to be tackled in the Solomon Islands with mitigation measures that can be brought about by help, advice and funding, from the Green Climate Fund, which is already helping in neighbouring countries to prevent sea-rise incursion to ensure food and water security.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
