UN report on climate change, overuse of resources, severe air pollution creating new challenges for women

By Vikas Meshram* 

A recent women-centric report by the United Nations highlights that by 2050, over 158 million women and girls could fall into poverty due to climate change. Simultaneously, more than 236 million women and girls may face food insecurity. An estimate suggests that 130 million girls worldwide are deprived of their fundamental right to education annually, and this issue has worsened due to the climate crisis. Climate change, overuse of resources, and severe air pollution are creating significant challenges, especially for women. Changes in the environment and rising air pollution levels are adversely impacting children even before they are born. Doctors state that toxic heavy metals in the air, inhaled by pregnant women, can harm the unborn child. Air pollution is detrimental to the heart, brain, and lungs of newborns. Pollutants cross the placenta, reaching the fetus, restricting essential nutrients from being delivered through the blood. This hampers proper brain and lung development, leading to issues like congenital respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Conditions like autism and intellectual disabilities have also been observed. Alarmingly, even early pregnancy tests reveal traces of pollutants in the womb, raising serious concerns. Long-term exposure to such pollution can lead to cancer in children.

Research in China revealed that pollution significantly contributes to preterm births, involving 687 women. It was found that pollution poses the greatest threat during the first and last months of pregnancy. In the United States, 3% of total preterm births—around 16,000 annually—are attributed to pollution. According to the PLOS Medicine journal, about 6 million preterm births globally are linked to pollution, with half of these babies having low birth weights. A study by The Lancet on the impact of air pollution on pregnancies in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh revealed that 29% of pregnancies resulting in miscarriage were due to pollution. Of these, 77% occurred in India, 12% in Pakistan, and 11% in Bangladesh, involving 34,197 women. This research underscores how increasing pollution levels are a significant threat to human health, with air pollution being identified as the largest external risk to women's health globally.

Air pollution leads to respiratory and cardiovascular issues, cancer, and other illnesses, affecting everyone but particularly women. Activities like cooking on wood stoves further elevate health risks for women, with indoor pollution arising not only from cooking but also from heating and lighting. Deforestation and urbanization have exacerbated these problems, while poor diets, prolonged time spent in kitchens, and economic dependence worsen the impact on women.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change and air pollution have become global crises over the past two decades. Poor environmental quality is now a major contributor to millions of deaths worldwide annually. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how healthcare resources are diverted in emergencies, leaving women and girls disproportionately affected due to their reliance on local natural resources. Rural women and girls bear the responsibility of collecting food, water, and wood for their families. During droughts and erratic rainfall, they work harder, walk longer distances, and spend more time providing for their households. Climate-related disasters lead to 14 times higher mortality rates for women and girls compared to men, with four out of five displaced persons being women and girls.

This situation demands urgent attention as the environment around us continues to change rapidly. As these environmental issues grow, humanity must become more aware of problems like pollution, population growth, waste management, and climate change. Rising temperatures, increasing natural disasters, and changing weather patterns call for immediate reflection on how we live and interact with the environment. A balanced ecosystem comprising humans, animals, plants, air, and water is crucial for sustaining life. However, the unbalanced exploitation of resources is leading to environmental crises.

Deforestation is accelerating, and the unregulated use of natural resources is destabilizing nature. Rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, and modern transportation are worsening the situation. According to the United Nations' Global Environment Outlook 3, 70% of the Earth's surface may face destruction by 2032. The expansion of cities, roads, and factories is expected to nearly double, with industrial emissions and vehicular pollution posing severe threats to living beings.

While there are attempts to address these issues, human activities driven by economic aspirations, technological advancements, and environmental negligence by developed nations limit the options for developing countries. The face of destruction is becoming increasingly apparent. Without immediate action, the "demon of destruction" will create unparalleled crises for all life forms. Environmental pollution has resulted in rising health disorders, including air, water, and noise pollution, posing threats not just to humans but to the entire biosphere.

Excessive desires and unregulated actions have led to environmental imbalance. To escape this looming danger, it is imperative to take measures to protect the environment. Governments must initiate extensive awareness campaigns and implement stringent legal provisions to prevent deforestation and pollution. A genuine commitment to preserving forests, judicious use of water resources, and curbing water pollution is essential.

According to a survey conducted in 114 countries, an average of 7% of species in each nation are on the verge of extinction, a figure expected to double by 2050. These statistics compel humanity to rethink its actions. In India, environmental issues like river pollution, toxic industrial discharges, and urban smog highlight the urgent need for intervention. The Indian Environmental Protection Act, along with laws such as the Fisheries Act and Water Pollution Act, provides mechanisms to combat these issues.

The responsibility lies with individuals to stay vigilant and make efforts to mitigate pollution. Environmental degradation is a global issue, but its consequences in India—such as toxic rivers and urban pollution—are particularly severe. To ensure the Earth remains habitable, humanity must stop environmental chaos. Otherwise, this growing crisis will become catastrophic for the entire world.

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*Senior journalist