A study by WWA reveals that women and girls in South Sudan are significantly impacted by climate change, experiencing heightened health risks and worsened inequalities due to intense heatwaves. School closures and increased responsibilities for women compound these issues, necessitating improved infrastructure and urgent action against climate change.
Women and girls in South Sudan are facing heightened health risks and exacerbated inequality due to climate change amid record heatwaves. A report by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group indicated that February’s heatwave was made ten times more likely and two degrees Celsius hotter by human-induced climate change. This extreme heat has led to significant disruptions, including the closing of schools, as dozens of students collapsed from heatstroke in Juba, prompting an educational crisis similar to that experienced the prior year.
The impact of rising temperatures is particularly troubling given that many schools in South Sudan utilize iron roofs that trap heat and lack air conditioning. Consequently, students endure extremely hot environments, prompting the researchers to warn of ongoing high temperatures throughout March. Gender inequality compounds the issue, as school closures disrupt education for girls specifically, making their return to schooling increasingly challenging.
Furthermore, the burdens women face from employment and household responsibilities expose them to extreme temperatures, increasing their susceptibility to heat-related illnesses according to the research. Efforts to alleviate these challenges include improving school ventilation, incorporating lighter colors in school designs, and adapting academic schedules to safeguard education amid climate-induced disruptions.
Persistent gender roles exacerbate women’s vulnerability, as they are often tasked with care responsibilities that prevent them from escaping excessive heat, thus worsening gender disparities. Friederike Otto, lead author from WWA, emphasized that fossil fuel consumption heightens extreme weather events, particularly affecting those already facing inequalities. Moreover, worldwide, women face disproportionate risks during extreme weather, such as increased mortality during such events and subsequent food insecurity.
The study noted that the recent week of extreme heat would have been highly unlikely without human-caused climate warming of 1.3 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. The researchers highlighted the growing threat of heatwaves, directly linked to increased risks of miscarriage and stillbirths, which jeopardizes maternal health in a country already struggling with one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally.
The escalating occurrences of intense heatwaves, already common with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, further underscore the urgency of addressing climate change. If global warming progresses to 2.6 degrees Celsius, such extreme events may become annual occurrences. Sarah Kew, a researcher from WWA, underscored the normalization of heatwaves above 40 degrees, emphasizing the need for immediate action to transition away from fossil fuels to protect vulnerable populations, particularly women, in South Sudan.
The findings highlight alarming trends regarding climate change’s impact on women and girls in South Sudan, linking extreme heatwaves to increased health risks and exacerbated gender inequalities. As researchers call for urgent measures to mitigate climate change through reduced fossil fuel reliance, it is paramount to enhance educational infrastructure and support systems for women. Addressing these disparities can empower women and improve overall societal resilience against climate-induced adversities.
Original Source: www.climatechangenews.com
