There was a lot of hue and cry about the recent heatwaves across the globe and, more particularly, in Europe. Apparently, the world is waking up to the climate change disaster in the making. The ensuing calamities in store will have a disastrous impact. It is likely to create global public discomfort but are politicians and governments listening?
Reducing climate-related calamities, such as heat or cold waves, floods, droughts etc, requires proactive measures from all stakeholders. However, the Government is the foremost stakeholder in climate change fight. Many forums like COP 26, 27 and now 28 are there to talk and formulate policies, but more concerted action is needed.
Here are a few steps that I think Governments, in tandem with others, can take:
1. Implement Strong Climate Action Plans: Governments must forge partnerships with the civil and private sectors to create comprehensive climate action plans that include targets for reducing emissions and transitioning to renewables. These plans should be backed by solid political resolve and legislation to ensure effectiveness, not being lost in bipartisan politics or bureaucratic snags.
2. There should be an intent to Invest in Renewable Energy with a transition plan outlining a minimum stipulation from conventional to renewables. Targets must be set and adhered to ensure maximum reliance on sustainable sources. Governments should provide incentives and invest in renewable sources, like solar and wind power.
3. Promote Energy Efficiency: Governments can introduce policies and regulations to promote energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industrial sectors. This can include mandatory energy-efficiency standards, promoting green building practices, and incentivizing the use of energy-efficient appliances and vehicles. Electric vehicles’ cost affordability, and the requisite infrastructure to provide charging stations is a critical issue.
4. Enhance overall urban and building Infrastructure Resilience: Governments should prioritise infrastructure development considering climate resilience. This can include building roads and flyovers that reduce traffic congestion, a significant issue in higher emissions, introducing heat-resilient urban designs, increasing green spaces, improving ventilation systems, and implementing heat-sensitive warning systems. Undertaking a thorough review of existing buildings on their designs and equipment health certificates is incredibly crucial. The design of most of the old buildings in Europe is not conducive to high temperatures, and definitive interventions are needed therein to review their preparedness. For instance, basement facilities are to be shut down until proper ventilation is ensured. A definite sanity check is to be done for public utilities and healthcare buildings.
5. Governments and building managers need to Implement Early Warning procedures: Governments should establish efficient heat-related early warning systems to alert citizens and provide necessary guidance during heat or cold wave events. There are protocols in context to cold weather conditions, but heat is a new phenomenon. This can include public announcements, emergency helplines, and collaborations with meteorological departments.
6. Improve Healthcare and Public Services: Governments should ensure that healthcare facilities are adequately equipped to handle the increased demand during heat waves. Global standards on public safety and disaster management need to expand their manuals to include new weather calamities like heatwave. Providing emergency healthcare training to healthcare professionals and implementing public awareness campaigns can also help reduce heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
7. Foster stronger and emphatic International Collaboration listening to global scientists and climate change advocates. Climate change is a worldwide issue that requires international collaboration. Governments must shed politics and rise above to contribute to global climate alignment, embedding best practices and working together to combat climate change.
Governments need to forge solid public-private partnerships with the vital inclusion of civil society to realize climate change mitigation and reduce the impact of climate-related calamities. Proactive measures must be taken to create a more sustainable and resilient future, which can help avoid such public inconveniences and protect lives.