Tag: CLIMATE

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India News Kerala

Halfway into Monsoon, country faces 25% of rainfall deficit

While floods in Assam and heavy rainfall-induced landslides in Kerala have drawn global attention, 25 per cent of the 36 meteorological subdivisions in India are still reeling from a rainfall deficit halfway through the monsoon season.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the country experienced nine per cent more rainfall than normal in July (306.6 mm compared to the normal of 280.5 mm) with a cumulative precipitation of 453.8 mm against the normal of 445.8 mm since June 1, a surplus of two per cent. However, the rainfall in July was unevenly distributed, both spatially and temporally.

East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, and parts of the northeast have recorded significant rainfall deficits. The rainfall deficit in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir ranged from 35 per cent to 45 per cent.

The rainfall deficit in East and Northeast India increased from 13.3 per cent on June 30 to 19 per cent on July 31, with the region recording 610.2 mm of rainfall against the normal of 752.5 mm so far this monsoon season.

Northwest India recorded 182.4 mm of rainfall in July, compared to the normal of 209.7 mm, a deficit of 13 per cent. The region has received 235 mm of rainfall so far this monsoon season, against the normal of 287.8 mm, a shortfall of 18 per cent.

Central India received 33 per cent more rainfall than normal in July, with 427.2 mm of precipitation compared to the normal of 321.3 mm. Overall, the region has recorded 574.2 mm of rainfall so far this monsoon season, against the normal of 491.6 mm.

The southern peninsula received 36 per cent more rainfall in July, with 279.2 mm compared to the normal of 204.5 mm. Overall, it has recorded 463.1 mm of rainfall so far this monsoon season, against the normal of 365.5 mm, an excess of 27 per cent.

According to IMD data, the rainfall deficit in Gangetic West Bengal stands at 40 per cent, with all 15 districts recording below-normal precipitation. Jharkhand has received 41 per cent less rainfall than normal, with all 24 districts in the deficient category.

Odisha has a rainfall deficit of 11 per cent, with 12 of its 30 districts in the deficient category. All but five districts in Bihar have recorded a significant rainfall deficiency, resulting in an overall 36 per cent deficit for the state so far this monsoon season.

The rainfall shortage in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand stands at 15 per cent and four percent, respectively. Nineteen out of the 22 districts in Haryana have recorded below-normal rainfall, with the overall deficit standing at 43 per cent. The rainfall deficit in Punjab is 45 per cent, with only three of the 22 districts recording normal rainfall.

Jammu and Kashmir, which has been reeling from a rare and severe heat wave, has recorded 37 per cent below-normal rainfall. The IMD had earlier predicted normal to above-normal rainfall over most parts of the country, except many parts of northeast India and some parts of northwest, east, and southeast peninsular India.

The weather department expected above-normal rainfall activity in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and the foothills of the western Himalayas.

Kerala, where heavy rainfall-induced landslides have claimed over 150 lives, has received four per cent less rainfall than usual. Delhi, where 15 people have died in rain-related incidents, has received eight per cent below-normal rainfall. In central and west India, Goa has received 50 per cent surplus precipitation, Maharashtra 39 per cent, Gujarat 23 per cent, and Madhya Pradesh seven per cent.

In southern India, Tamil Nadu received 56 per cent surplus rainfall, Andhra Pradesh 43 per cent, Karnataka 33 per cent, and Puducherry 20 per cent.

The Indian monsoon is characterised by inherent fluctuations and changes that occur over time due to various natural factors. This is called natural variability. However, research shows climate change is making the monsoon more variable. Increased variability means more extreme weather and dry spells.

According to the IMD, below-normal rainfall is expected in northeast India during the entire season, normal in the northwest, and above-normal in central and south peninsular regions of the country. India’s core monsoon zone, covering most of the rain-fed agricultural areas in the country, is predicted to receive above-normal rainfall this season, the Met office said.

The monsoon is critical for India’s agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on it. The primary rain-bearing system is also crucial for replenishing reservoirs critical for drinking water and power generation across the country.

June and July are considered the most important monsoon months for agriculture, as most of the sowing for the Kharif crop takes place during this period.

Weather agencies expect La Nia conditions to set in by August. La Nia, a buildup of cooler-than-normal waters in the central Pacific Ocean, is associated with plentiful rainfall in the Indian subcontinent during the monsoon season.

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-Top News EU News UK News

Climate activists paralyse air traffic at German airport

The government has just passed a tougher penalty for obstructing air traffic, which is pending parliamentary approval, with prison sentences of up to two years instead of a fine…reports Asian Lite News

Climate activists temporarily brought air traffic at Cologne/Bonn Airport in western Germany to a complete standstill on Wednesday.

Five members of the ‘Last Generation’ had entered the airport grounds through a fence and glued themselves to the runway. According to the airport operator, further delays and flight cancellations are to be expected during the course of the day despite the removal of the protesters.

The police have filed criminal charges for violation of the Assembly Act, dangerous interference with air traffic, and trespassing.

The government has just passed a tougher penalty for obstructing air traffic, which is pending parliamentary approval, with prison sentences of up to two years instead of a fine.

With the action, the climate activism group was trying to put pressure on the German government to sign a ‘Fossil Fuel Treaty’ with international partners, a joint agreement to phase out fossil fuels by 2030, the ‘Last Generation’ said on social media platform X.

As an election promise, the country’s governing parties in 2021 declared their intention to phase out coal by 2030. However, the plan has so far only been adopted for the most populous federal state, North Rhine-Westphalia, with experts doubting it is to be implemented in time.

At the international level, the Group of Seven (G7) countries, including Germany, agreed for the first time at the end of April on a common time frame for the complete phase-out of coal, aiming for implementation by the mid-2030s.

The ‘Last Generation’ has been polarising in recent years with road traffic blockades that caused much resentment among the population. At the beginning of 2024, they changed their strategy, shifting to “increasingly confront those responsible for climate destruction directly in future”.

ALSO READ-India Advances on Climate Action: Economic Survey

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Business Economy India News

Experts: New Taxonomy to Standardize Green Bonds

The budget strengthens the regulatory framework to support green housing….reports Asian Lite News

Centre’s move to develop climate finance taxonomy, as announced in the Union Budget on Tuesday, will help standardise green bond and green finance markets in India, said experts.

In her seventh budget speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans to “develop a taxonomy for climate finance for enhancing the availability of capital for climate adaptation and mitigation”.

“This will support the achievement of the country’s climate commitments and green transition,” she said.

“These are steps on the right path because India’s energy security requires diversity in the energy mix,” Hisham Mundol, Chief Advisor, Environmental Defense Fund in India, told IANS.

“The development of a taxonomy for climate finance will provide the required standardisation and transparency to rapidly globalise our green bond and green finance market,” added Ramnath Iyer, CEO & Co-Founder of ESGDS.

To support energy transition — critical in the fight against climate change — the FM proposed to “expand the list of exempted capital goods for use in the manufacture of solar cells and panels in the country”.

“‘This budget is a crucial step forward for adoption of green energy. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlights the budget’s strong emphasis on climate resilience. Expanding the list of exempted capital goods to solar energy projects is crucial for accelerating the transition to green energy. As the world’s third largest GHG emitter, emissions reduction in India is a global priority,” Iyer said.

The budget also strengthens the regulatory framework to support green housing.

“This could include implementing stricter energy efficiency standards for new green building projects, encourage use of sustainable materials and promote environmental conservation,” he noted.

Mundol “lauded” the budget proposal for “raising agricultural productivity and building climate resilient varieties and towards this end the investment in agricultural research and the ambition to transform agricultural research”.

“Overall, this budget will substantially accelerate our transition to a low carbon economy,” Iyer said.

ALSO READ: BUDGET 2024: What Becomes Cheaper And What’s Costlier?

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-Top News UAE News

EAD signs pledge to join UAE’s climate alliance

EAD has signed the commitment to join UACA and the UACA Advisory Committee…reports Asian Lite News

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has signed a pledge to join the Advisory Committee of the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA) in support of the country’s net zero ambitions.

UACA was launched at COP27 by environmental charity Emirates Nature-WWF to create a multi-stakeholder alliance for climate action. Its vision is to increase momentum for near-and long-term net-zero targets and foster greater collaboration to create a policy environment that supports entities’ decarbonisation efforts. UACA engages sub-national and non-state actors including the private sector, and is endorsed by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

UACA is part of the global Alliances for Climate Action, an accelerator of the Race to Zero global campaign led by the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions that rallies leadership and support from non-state actors to build momentum around decarbonisation and halve emissions by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement.

Signing the pledge on behalf of EAD was Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Agency, in the presence of Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chair of the UACA Advisory Committee, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, along with Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director-General of Emirates Nature-WWF.

EAD has signed the commitment to join UACA and the UACA Advisory Committee. As part of the UACA Advisory Committee, EAD will work alongside other members to provide high-level strategic and technical guidance that draws on the sectoral expertise of its diverse leaders and supports UACA’s objective of increasing momentum towards a net zero future.

The Agency will also work to ensure UACA is a key driver for enhanced domestic sub-national non-state actor commitments, while supporting UACA’s outreach by supporting synergies between non-state actor decarbonisation learnings and engaging policymakers on findings and recommendations to accelerate the transition to net-zero.

Moreover, EAD will raise awareness around UACA and its benefits to the UAE, identify strategic opportunities for UACA to contribute to national projects, such as the Climate Responsible Sustainable Companies pledge, and assign a focal point to achieve the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative by sharing information on upcoming policies and relevant information as necessary.

Speaking on the occasion, Razan Al Mubarak said, “EAD is the primary custodian of climate action in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and it is fitting that the Agency would be a key member of the UAE Alliance for Climate Action Advisory Committee due to its vast years of experience in addressing climate change.

“Just last year, EAD launched the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy, designed with ambitious targets to reduce emissions in Abu Dhabi as a means of combatting climate change. Therefore, EAD will be a prominent member providing experienced and significant guidance – all with the goal of supporting the UAE’s strategic initiative to reach Net Zero by 2050.”

Dr. Shaikha emphasised Abu Dhabi’s commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2050 in alignment with the UAE Government’s vision. (ANI/WAM)

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-Top News UK News

Sunak has set us back, says climate watchdog head

The Government remains formally committed to reaching net zero by 2050, but has delayed a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles and weakened targets on home insulation and phasing out gas boilers…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has set Britain back on tackling climate change and must do more on heating and industrial emissions to stop slipping behind other nations, the head of the government’s advisory body has said.

Chris Stark, who will step down as chief executive of the independent Climate Change Committee next week, told the BBC broadcaster that UK climate policy had become less ambitious.

“That is extremely hard to recover,” Stark said, according to excerpts from the interview due to air on Sunday. “I think it’s set us back.”

Under pressure to address cost-of-living concerns and trailing the opposition Labour Party before an election later this year, Sunak has outraged environmental campaigners by watering down some measures to reach net zero emissions.

He says delaying targets for changing cars and domestic heating are pragmatic moves needed to maintain the consent of the British people, with the country’s commitment to reach net zero by 2050 still intact.

Stark, who has run the committee since April 2018 but will now join consultancy the Carbon Trust as chief executive later this year, said Britain needed to do more work on how homes were heated and industrial emissions managed, as well as in the farming and transport systems.

“I definitely feel we’re at risk,” he said.

Asked about Stark’s comments, a government spokesperson said Britain was the first major economy to halve greenhouse gas emissions since 1990 and had set into law one of the most ambitious 2035 climate change targets.

“But we need to reach our net zero goals in a sustainable way so we have taken action to protect our energy security, ease the burdens on hard-working people and provide transparency about the choices involved so that we bring people with us in meeting our climate targets,” the spokesperson added.

The Government remains formally committed to reaching net zero by 2050, but has delayed a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles and weakened targets on home insulation and phasing out gas boilers.

In his speech in October, Sunak said the changes were a more “pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic approach to meeting net zero” that reduced the burden on the public.

A Government spokesperson said: “Our record on net zero speaks for itself – we are the first major economy to halve greenhouse gas emissions since 1990 and have set into law one of the most ambitious 2035 climate change targets of any major economy.

“But we need to reach our net zero goals in a sustainable way so we have taken action to protect our energy security, ease the burdens on hard-working people and provide transparency about the choices involved so that we bring people with us in meeting our climate targets.”

In his interview with the BBC, Stark said the Scottish Government’s decision to remove some of its own climate change targets provided a “salutary lesson”.

ALSO READ-Sunak faces resistance over his smoking ban plans

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Environment Environment and WIldlife Lite Blogs

Turning Concrete Jungles into Green Oases

Urban farming involves the cultivation of crops within and around cities. This practice not only provides fresh, locally grown produce but also has numerous environmental benefits…writes Maninder Singh

Climate change is no longer a distant concern but a current reality demanding immediate attention. Its effects, from extreme weather to rising sea levels and resource scarcity, are being felt globally. However, within these challenges lies an opportunity for eco-conscious decisions. Urban farming, once viewed as niche, is now recognized as a practical response to mitigate climate change impacts. By converting urban spaces into sustainable ecosystems, urban farming has the potential to transform our environmental stewardship and build a more resilient future.

The need to address climate change is urgent. The WHO estimates that by the 2030s, there could be an additional 250,000 deaths annually due to climate-related diseases like malaria and coastal flooding. Rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and more frequent extreme weather events are among the outcomes of unsustainable practices. The time to take action is now, and urban farming offers a promising path forward.

Urban Farming: A Sustainable Solution

Urban farming involves the cultivation of crops within and around cities. This practice not only provides fresh, locally grown produce but also has numerous environmental benefits. By reducing the need for long-distance transportation of food, urban farming helps to lower carbon emissions. In addition, the use of organic farming practices can improve soil health and biodiversity, further contributing to climate resilience.

Transforming City Spaces

One of the key advantages of urban farming is its ability to convert underutilized city spaces into organic food production centers. Vacant lots, rooftops, balconies, and even vertical surfaces can be repurposed for farming, creating green spaces in the heart of urban areas. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of cities but also helps to mitigate the urban heat island effect, which can exacerbate the impacts of climate change.

Community Engagement

Urban farming also promotes community engagement and social cohesion. By bringing people together to grow and share food, urban farms can strengthen social bonds and create a sense of belonging. This can be particularly important in densely populated urban areas where social isolation is a growing concern. Besides, urban farming can provide economic opportunities for local residents, especially in underserved communities.

Policy Support

To fully realise the potential of urban farming, supportive policies and incentives are needed. While some state governments have extended their support by providing subsidies and thus creating an enabling environment for urban farming, policymakers can help to scale up this sustainable practice and make it accessible to more people.

Urban farming has the potential to be a game-changer in the fight against climate change. By transforming city spaces into sustainable havens, urban farming can help reduce carbon emissions, improve food security, and enhance the resilience of urban areas. However, realizing this potential will require concerted efforts from policymakers, communities, and individuals. It is time to embrace urban farming as a solution to climate change and work towards a more sustainable future.

ALSO READ-Boris Johnson to headline Masdar’s Green Hydrogen Summit  

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Arab News Technology UAE News

New Study Reveals AI’s Transformative Impact on Weather Prediction

Trends Research and Advisory’s new study, ‘AI Skies: Transforming Weather Prediction and Climate Awareness,’ explores AI’s role in significantly enhancing weather forecasting accuracy…. reports Asian Lite News

Trends Research and Advisory has launched a fresh study titled ‘AI Skies: Revolutionizing Weather Prediction and Climate Awareness.’ This research investigates AI’s impact on weather forecasting, demonstrating a remarkable level of precision. Conducted by Noor Al Mazrouei, Head of the AI and Advanced Technology Program at Trends, the study reveals how AI analyzes vast datasets from satellites and weather stations to predict extreme weather events more accurately, thereby enhancing disaster preparedness and risk management.

The advent of AI applications in meteorology has ushered in a new era of personalised weather services, directly catering to the varying needs of different users and industries.

The study highlighted the societal benefits of AI in weather forecasting, such as enhancing the accuracy of weather forecasts, which are essential for sound planning and decision-making across different sectors of society.

The study discussed how artificial intelligence has become a pivotal tool for simplifying and interpreting complex climate data, enabling decision-makers and scientists to make better decisions. It explains the potential of artificial intelligence in raising public awareness of climate change through platforms that translate complex climate data into an easy-to-understand format.

The study concluded that AI not only improves weather forecasting, but fundamentally changes the way we understand and address climate challenge.

ALSO READ : Artificial Intelligence takes centre stage in Davos

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Environment Lite Blogs UAE News

Rain brings vibe energies to people of Oman

Oman welcomes rain as gift of nature, many took selfies and reels, reports Vinod Raghavan

MUSCAT: Rains lashed for the second day in the Sultanate of Oman, bringing to a halt of all activities, as the authorities did not wanted the people to face any hardships due to water logging or traffic snarls.

Traffic snarls are not only seen in big cities of the world, but it can cause road blocks even on the Sultan Qaboos Street on any rainy day.

But, the difference between big cities and Oman is you can’t hear any honking or racing their vehicles in the Sultanate, but they patiently waits to move the snarls at their own pace.

The MET Department had already announced earlier that two days Sunday-Monday will be raining, but as human nature, one cannot resist of not leaving their home to fulfill the responsibility towards their work too.

Besides, rain it was a day for International cycling race – 13th edition of Tour of Oman, which also caused the blockage of roads in Muscat governorate, but the expats and nationals took it in their stride.

While, many taking advantage of public holiday and enjoying the rare rain in Oman, didn’t wanted to miss the nature’s gift.

Corniche in Muttrah was a buzzed with people taking selfies and reels.

Anita Rajan, a local actor resident of CBD, Ruwi, has been vying to shoot the famous Bollywood number Rim Jhim Ghire Sawan, Sulag Sulag Jaye Mun, Bheege Aaj Is Mausam Mein, Lagi Kaisi Yeah Agan picturised on Amitabh Bachchan and Moushami Chatterjee in the 80s capturing the rain in Mumbai’s scenic places with sea, traffic and open parks, was lucky enough to capture various locations of Muscat.

Accompanied along-with Kabeer Yousuf, known journalist and actor, helped her in shooting the song at the picturesque Corniche against the roaring Arabian sea.

ALSO READ-GMC: Environment, Tech, Creation Take Centre Stage

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-Top News Environment World News

China’s Unreliability in Climate Fight

Would those who kill human beings hesitate to kill plants and animals?…writes Kok Bayraq

At the UN’s  COP28, the annual international climate summit held in  Dubai in the first week of December, the Chinese side opposed the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), stating that “China would set its climate targets based on the country’s own pace of technological and economic development.”

Sun Zhen, Deputy Director General of the Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, clearly reminded all that China is a developing country. Yes, Sun revealed a truth, albeit in a covert way, on the international stage.

If we lift the curtain, the truth is this. The Chinese people, some of whose citizens have fled the border and sought political asylum in the USA and Europe due to economic and political problems, do not have the time or mind to worry about climate.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as an unelected power that seeks to legitimize its rule by all means, both bloody and bloodless, has neither the mind nor the inclination to think about climate.

Even so, Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General of the European Commission for Climate Action, continued to plead with the CCP. “We remain hopeful that China can impact the world and global communities by peaking carbon before 2030,” he said. What a naïve and unrealistically expectation!

Is it possible for a family whose house is a mess and whose kitchen is covered in dirt to have a clean garden? Is it possible for someone whose garden is full of wild plants to have manicured flowers in front of their doors?

When its own regime was shaken in 1989, the (CCP) preserved its throne by killing its own citizens using tanks. The regime kept the COVID-19 virus secret for two months in 2019–2020 to protect its own image. This caused the death of seven million human beings in the world and three million in the USA so far.  As twenty-two countries, government, or parliaments defined and proclaimed, China is currently committing genocide against the Uyghurs.

Is it possible for a ruling group that has no compassion for people to have compassion for animals? Can a group that uses all its means to destroy a nation, a culture, and a religion have any concern about the disappearance of flowers and trees? Can a regime that does not take responsibility for a disaster like COVID-19 and does not allow the origins of the pandemic to be investigated care about the depletion of rivers and the drying of lakes? Is it possible for such a regime to be disturbed by air and sea pollution?

The CCP continues to insult the intellectual capacity of UN officials by making an empty promise. “China had built solid data, monitoring and verification measures, as well as a legislative framework that ensured high-level integrity of the country’s voluntary and compliance carbon markets,” Sun said.

Then he confirmed once again that China cannot cooperate. “I am sorry to say that if the EU wants to lead the world using policies like CBAM, that’s simply not straight,” he said.

Previously, China had committed to peak its carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The first reason for China’s empty promises is to divert attention during negotiations with the USA and Europe, and to prevent urgent issues such as the Uyghur Genocide and its responsibility for COVID-19 from being brought to the agenda. The second goal is to make a profit by turning American and European green energy projects into businesses China can benefit from.

The US, the UK and Australia are planning to launch CBAM-style policies. CBAM is a landmark tool to put a fair price on the carbon released during the production of carbon-intensive goods entering the EU and to promote cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries. CBAM will ensure that the carbon price of imports into the EU is equivalent to the carbon price of domestic production and that the EU’s climate targets are met. CBAM is also designed to comply with WTO rules.

In fact, CBAM may have emerged earlier and more effectively than China expected. China, realizing that the empty promises and fake data doesn’t work at this stage, is being forced to show its true face.

A staff member showcases Chinese calligraphy at China’s pavilion during COP28 in Dubai, UAE, on Dec. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Let’s be realistic. Concerns about the effects of climate change are primarily the problem of peoples who have overcome the problem of hunger. This is not the problem of a poor society whose stomachs are not yet full and whose social justice is not yet established. If a state is worried about division, if a regime is worried about collapse, if a society is struggling with the problem of stability, it is foolishness to expect cooperation from it on the climate issue.

Yes, China is telling the truth now. It is not worried about the climate, it is worried about the “terrorist Uyghurs,” it has problems with “separatist Taiwan,” it has a headache with “anarchist Hong Kong,” it has a permanent concern about protecting the regime, but there is no such thing as climate in its mind or heart… Those who do not understand this does not understand anything about China.

ALSO READ-Climate Minister leaves COP28 as talks reach final phase

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-Top News Health UK News

Health risks surge in UK due to climate change

H3N2 Influenza Virus.

The report also warns that more people will be at high risk of flooding in the future due to changing rainfall patterns…reports Asian Lite News

Adverse impacts on health due to extreme weather and vector-borne disease risks could increase in the UK under a warming climate, according to a report published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The report, written by 90 experts, is based on climate projections using a high-end warming scenario or a “worst-case scenario” of approximately 4.3 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100.

“Our changing climate poses one of the greatest health security and societal challenges, impacting everything from the air we breathe to the quality and availability of our food and water,” Xinhua news agency quoted Isabel Oliver, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, as saying in a statement.

The report estimates that there will be up to 10,000 deaths in the country by the 2050s as a result of extreme heat.

Based on a high-end warming scenario, the report anticipates a substantial surge in heat-related deaths, with an increase of over 1.5 times by the 2030s and an over 12-fold rise by the 2070s.

It also states that vector-borne diseases, such as chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses, could become transmissible in London and other parts of the UK due to Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquitoes) and Culex mosquitoes.

According to the report, under a high-warming scenario, the UK will become suitable for new domestic mosquitoes by the 2040s and 2050s, while most of Wales, Northern Ireland, and parts of the Scottish Lowlands may see potential establishment by the 2060s or 2070s.

The report also warns that more people will be at high risk of flooding in the future due to changing rainfall patterns.

It is projected that the UK’s dependence on food from highly climate-vulnerable countries will increase, potentially affecting the stability of food supplies, particularly for fresh fruit and vegetables.

“Action is needed now to adapt our policies, environments and our behaviors to secure health, well-being and livelihoods,” Oliver said, adding that much can be done to “avert and prevent” the impacts of climate change on health.

UKHSA, an executive agency sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care, is responsible for planning, preventing and responding to external health threats.

This year is set to be the hottest year on record in human history, according to a report published by the World Meteorological Organization at the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

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