Climate change

As Afghanistan grapples with this latest natural disaster, the episode underscores the urgent need for both immediate humanitarian support and longer-term adaptation strategies.

The study leverages tools like the Climate Shift Index to attribute temperature changes, providing a scientific basis for policy and public awareness.

The report arrives on World Meteorological Day under the theme “observing today to protect tomorrow.” It highlights how interconnected economies and societies remain vulnerable despite scientific progress.

Beyond records, impacts could include intensified heatwaves, coral bleaching, and disruptions to agriculture and water supplies across multiple continents. In regions like India, where monsoon rains support hundreds of millions, a developing El Niño often correlates with weaker rainfall, though exact outcomes depend on the event’s strength and timing.

According to the latest integrated food security phase classification (IPC) analysis, approximately 7.5 million people across vulnerable regions are grappling with high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition.

While approximately 90 per cent of the land identification process has been completed, displaced communities remain uncertain about when permanent housing will become available. For many survivors, the prolonged wait for safe housing continues to compound the trauma of the disaster.

Government officials say the newly endorsed measures will be implemented through coordinated efforts across ministries, provincial authorities, and disaster-management agencies. The aim is to create a comprehensive national framework that integrates climate risk reduction into infrastructure planning, agriculture policy, and disaster response systems.

Sri Lanka is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, with an estimated 19 million people expected to live in moderate or severe climate hotspots by 2050.