Developing Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change. Given its geographic features and socioeconomic circumstances, developing Asia is vulnerable to climaterelated risks. The region faces increasing frequency and severity of storms, flooding, heat waves, and droughts under climate change. Afghanistan particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of a rapidly changing climate. It is an arid, landlocked, snowfed country with most of its water originating in glaciers of upstream mountains. To address the risks, the Islamic Emirate is working to find ways to tackle challenges and pay particular attention to areas mostly affected by the climate change. In a most recent step, Acting Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabul has said that the Islamic Emirate will pay particular attention to areas affected by the climate change. He said some parts of Afghanistan are faced with serious threat of floods due climate change and the government is giving special attention to areas affected by the climate change. He said this during a meeting with Acting Minister for National Disaster Management Mullah Mohammad Abbas Akhund early this week. Mullah Abbas Akhund briefed the prime minister on the actions, plans and preparation of his ministry for the management of natural disasters. The state minister for natural disaster management assured of the ministry’s necessary preparations to handle natural diasters, adding that his ministry is in contact with relief organizations to work jointly in the time of need. In the meeting, acting prime minister of the Islamic Emirate said that some parts of the country were faced with serious threat of floods due to climate change and the ministry of state for natural disaster management should chalk out a prior comprehensive plan. He said that the government is given special attention to the area affected by climate change to reduce the damages and set and set aside funds for it when needed, adding the international community should not spare its assistance. The metrological department of Afghanistan has predicted heavy rains and storm in different provinces of the country. The heavy rain and storm caused loss of life and property in Khost province this week. Across the world, millions of people are already suffering from the catastrophic effects of extreme weather disasters exacerbated by climate change – from prolonged drought in sub-Saharan Africa to devastating tropical storms sweeping across Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific. The devastation that climate change is causing and will continue to cause means it is code red for humanity. But there is still time. The world’s leading scientific body for the assessment of climate change – the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – warns that global greenhouse gas emissions must ‘peak before 2025 at the latest, and be reduced by 43% by 2030 if we are to limit climate change to 1.5°C and avoid complete catastrophe. Mohammad Daud
Climate change affecting some parts of Afghanistan
