Publication: Pakistan - Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment
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2024-07-10
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2024-07-10
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Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. Extensive geographical diversity and exposure to a wide range of climate-related hazards, a strong dependency on agriculture and water resources, high rates of multidimensional poverty, as well as a sizable and expanding population, independently and collectively contribute to climate change-related vulnerabilities across the country. Climate change can have profound effects on health outcomes in Pakistan - either by exacerbating the country’s existing health burdens or by creating new health risks. The objective of this Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA) is to assist decision-makers in Pakistan with planning effective adaptation measures to mitigate climate-related health risks. To do so, the characteristics of the climatology of Pakistan are first described, with a focus on the observed and projected climate exposures that are relevant to health, as well as key climate-related hazards. Then climate-related health risks, namely heat-related risks, vector-borne disease (VBD) risks, waterborne disease (WBDs) risks, and risks to nutrition are examined in light of projected climate variability and change, including identifying vulnerable populations most at risk, where possible. The final step assesses the adaptive capacity of the health system in Pakistan to manage current and future climate-related health risks. This assessment is used to inform a series of recommendations that are aimed at reducing climate-related health vulnerability and building climate resilience in Pakistan’s health sector.
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“World Bank. 2024. Pakistan - Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/41852 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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