Climate change has not traditionally been seen as a health and human rights concern — but that may be changing following recent high-profile court cases. On April 9, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of a group of elderly Swiss women who claimed the government’s inadequate efforts to combat climate change put them at risk of dying during heatwaves. And in India, the Supreme Court on April 6 recognised a right against the adverse effects of climate change as a distinct fundamental right in the Constitution.

According to a new study, nearly all of India is vulnerable to increases in extreme climate events like cyclones, droughts, floods and heatwaves.

As the world marked five years of the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change, it also provided for an opportunity to take stock. Over the past five years, our knowledge of the exact nature of the risks of climate change impacts, as well as the opportunities to mitigate against them, have become more refined. This week’s column takes a look at one such report that came out around that date, focusing on India’s climate change challenges.

Data Gaps Initiative helps policymakers better understand the environmental impact of economic activities and the effectiveness of climate policies.
As economies worldwide strive to reduce emissions and achieve sustainable growth, reliable data is crucial. It forms the foundation for informed decision-making, guiding policy development, implementation, and monitoring.

The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo, an initiative under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), serves as a vital platform for sharing knowledge and forging partnerships in our collective journey towards environmental resilience.
The event not only underscores the urgency of climate adaptation, but also highlights the collaborative spirit required to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Climate change may feel like a distant problem, but in Pakistan, it’s becoming an urgent reality that affects millions. What do people in Pakistan truly think about the climate crisis, and how willing are they to act? This eye-opening article by the World Bank Team delves into the nation’s shifting attitudes toward climate change and explores how these perspectives could be the key to unlocking a greener, more resilient future. Discover the hopes, concerns, and potential for change that could shape Pakistan’s environmental landscape.

Climate change is a global challenge that demands collective action and innovative solutions. As we stand at the forefront of transformative change, it becomes imperative to evaluate the progress made in climate action, particularly in the Global South. Climate action in the Global South is linked to the idea of climate and energy justice. Since most of the vulnerable population lives in countries in the Global South, the energy transition will not only be an environmental imperative but also moral and economic.