Space and Global Health/Equity in Health Care/Climate Change and Equity

Climate Change and Equity.

Climate change is a blanket term for the increase in global temperature and its consequences that has been caused by human activities in the post-industrial revolution world. Climate change has two significant effects on equity: the unequal and unfair distribution of effects of climate change on people depending on their socioeconomic status, location, occupation, etc., and the issue of differences in historical emission and current needs while setting national emission targets.

Climate Change and its effects.

Virtually all activities connected to modern human existence release greenhouse gases (GHGs)into the earth’s atmosphere which trap the sun’s energy in undesirable amounts increasing the surface temperature of the planet. Compared to the pre-industrial level, it has risen by 1.2°C and is currently rising at around 0.2°C per decade.

This increase in surface temperature sets in motion a chain of events that include the thawing of permafrost, receding glaciers, rising sea levels, and acidification of water. Across the globe, rain and snowfall patterns are altered, deluges and draughts increase in frequency, and temperature extremes becomes a common occurrence. Consequently, plants and animals will be forced to transform their location and habits which will negatively impact their health and life spans. The nature of the soil will change concerning its acidity, temperature, and bacterial composition.

Weather extremes and food and freshwater shortages will be the earliest outcomes directly affecting humans, but these will be compounded by the varied impacts of climate change on public health, and  deterioration of societal support systems.

Reversing the effects of climate change.

The fight of humankind against climate change includes two principal strategies: Mitigation and Adaptation.

Mitigation.

Mitigation refers to the process of avoiding or delaying climate change catastrophe by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with a target of attaining net-zero emissions by 2050. This involves reduction of emissions by bringing about changes in sectors such as energy and agriculture and removing emitted carbon from the atmosphere through carbon sequestration.

Energy Sector.

The energy sector is undergoing a transition from emission heavy sources such as oil, coal, and natural gas to cleaner energy such as solar and wind power. Cutting-edge research is being conducted in the field of clean energy, focusing on improving the efficiency of existing sources and inventing new ones. Concepts like human power which is generating energy from human activities through wearable systems, magma power which is harnessing geothermal energy, spaced based solar power stations and artificial photosynthesis are prominent research areas.

Other Sectors.

Agriculture contributes more than 10% of total global emissions. GHG efficient farming practices such as focused breeding and genetic selection, anaerobic manure digestion, and improved animal health monitoring are touted to be effective in reducing emissions. As commercial and residential buildings emit considerable quantity of GHGS, Green buildings which have zero or negative carbon footprint are increasingly being designed.

Removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere compliments reduction of emission in the drive for net-zero. Carbon sinks such as forests and healthy soil, and direct air capture are effective methods for carbon sequestration. Water ecosystems such as wetlands and coastal waters are other effective carbon sinks

Adaptation.

Adaptation involves both reactive measures to the changes that have already happened and anticipatory measures to the future ones. The IPCC advocates adaptation measures across structural, social, and institutional realms. Structural adaptation spans everything from building seawalls to improving transportation to higher-efficiency energy grids. Mapping areas and communities of high vulnerability, improving awareness and participatory action are necessary social adaptation measures. Both structural and social measures of adaptation measures must be backed by institutional adaptation. This involves a rethinking of our financial and insurance policies, and the laws and regulations that deal with land zoning and building standards.

Climate Change and Equity

Climate change is an issue of Intergenerational Equity, which is a  legal principle that future generations have a legitimate expectation of equitable access to planetary resources. This puts the onus on current generation to provide for preservation of natural resources and the environment. However, this raises a political problem by forcing the current generation to bear the cost of prevention of climate change, the benefits of which will materialize only after their deaths. Principle of intergenerational equity forms the basis of Article 3 of the UNFCC, which states the need to “protect climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind.”  

Equity Considerations in Response to Climate Change.

Carbon budget is the maximum amount of cumulative net global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions that would result in limiting global warming to a given level within a given probability, considering the effect of other anthropogenic climate forces. As reducing green-house gas emissions is the single most important strategy to curtail climate change, the Carbon budget is a crucial milestone, and allocation of carbon budget between global nations a flashpoint issue. In setting national emission budgets, multiple equity concerns apply.

Ideally, the national emissions from all nations would be such that per-capita of individuals across the world are equal. However, wide inequities are observed in the cumulative historical emissions. The continents of Asia and Africa, which are home to 3/4^th of the global population, emits only half of global CO2 emitted. The highest per-capita emissions are oil producing countries of the middle east which have small populations and produce highly GHG-intensive commodities for export. India ranks third highest in terms of absolute emission, but only 158^th in terms of per capita emission. The egalitarian principle stipulates equal rights of all individuals which necessitates proportional distribution of emission budgets according to state populations.

UNFCC advocates “common but differentiated responsibilities” which means recognizing the difference in historical emissions between countries and the stage of development each nation is currently in. Underdeveloped/developing nations which were late to adopt industrialization are hence to be allotted a higher proportion of carbon budget so that they have an opportunity to reach the level of development reached by early industrialized nations. India has launched and maintains a climate equity monitor, showing the carbon credit/debit status of most global countries. North America, Russia, Australia, and most European nations have a carbon debt, while Asia, Africa and South America has a positive Carbon credit.

Equity considerations in energy switch.

The transition from oil-based energy production to clean sources requires technical know-how and capital investment which might prove inhibitory for underdeveloped countries. This is true in the case of nuclear energy, solar energy and even wind power. In cognizance of this, the Paris agreement of 2015 provides for financial assistance to less endowed countries, technology development and transfer, and capacity building and transfer. Another issue with adopting nuclear power generation is the availability of enriched Uranium which is contingent on the nation signing the nuclear Non -Proliferation Treaty.

Developing Countries with Specific Needs and Concerns.

Small island countries, countries with low lying areas, arid and semi-arid areas, areas prone to natural disasters, fragile ecosystems, and countries with areas prone to natural disasters deserve special consideration. Similarly, countries whose economies which are highly dependent on income generated from fossil fuel generation and export are prone to economic collapse as the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy happens. Hence, Article 4.8 of the UNFCC states that parties to the convention consider such countries by way of funding, insurance, and transfer of technology to meet their specific needs and concerns.

Unfair distribution of effects of climate change.

The effects of climate change are disproportionately felt by vulnerable populations. This can manifest through increased exposure or increased sensitivity to the effects of climate change, or decreased ability to adapt to climate change.

Increased exposure.

Geographic location is a crucial factor in increased exposure. People living in low lying areas and riverbanks are more exposed to frequent flooding, and those living adjacent to the sea will face loss of habitat due to rising sea levels earlier. Landslides pose a threat to residents of hilly habitats.

People belonging to low socioeconomic classes, are more vulnerable since they live in in buildings which may not be sturdy enough to withstand the elements.

People employed in certain occupations are more likely to be exposed to the effects of climate change. Farmers, fishers, and other occupations which harvest natural resources will face crises with change in location and habits of plants and animals. Those who work as first responders in incidences of forest fires and floods will have to face higher workload and associated risks. Due to the public health effects of climate change such as increased incidences of infectious diseases, injuries and others, health professionals will also face stressful working environments in addition to direct personal danger.

Increased Sensitivity

Sensitivity to effects of climate change is an important consideration in those with existing adverse health conditions. Pregnant women, children, immunocompromised and those with chronic conditions will be more prone to develop health complications due to climate change compared to general population.

Low adaptability.

Adapting to climate change will require migration, changing of diet, habits, occupation, and the like to suit the new circumstances. Old age population, people with disabilities etc have an impaired ability to make these adaptations, making them more susceptible to the dangers posed by climate change. Indigenous populations which maintain cultural behaviors over centuries are also ill-placed to the requirements of climate change adaptation.