Sustainability: Mozambique among Countries at Risk as Temperature Soars

A study on Monday, July 16, has shown that more than a billion people, including Mozambicans, are at risk from a lack of air conditioning and refrigeration as global warming brings more high temperatures.

Such groups are at risk to keep cool and to preserve food and medicines while Earth warming increases, NAN reports.

More electricity demand for fridges, fans and other appliances will add to man-made climate change unless power generators shift from fossil fuels to cleaner energies.

This was the view of the report by the non-profit Sustainable Energy for All.

The report said that about 1.1 billion people in Asia, Africa and Latin America – 470 million in rural areas and 630 million slum dwellers in cities – were at risk among the world’s 7.6 billion people.

Rachel Kyte, head of the group and special representative for the UN secretary-general for Sustainable Energy for All, said: “Cooling becomes more and more important with climate change.”

In a survey of 52 countries, those most at risk included India, China, Mozambique, Sudan, Nigeria, Brazil, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

Kyte said: “We have to provide cooling in a super-efficient way. Companies could find big markets, for instance by developing low-cost, high-efficiency air conditioners to sell to growing middle classes in tropical countries.

The report said: “And simpler solutions, such as painting roofs white to reflect sunlight or redesigning buildings to allow heat to escape, would also help.”

According to the UN health agency, heat stress linked to climate change is likely to cause 38,000 extra deaths a year worldwide between 2030 and 2050.

In a heat-wave in May, more than 60 people died in Karachi, Pakistan, when heat rose above 40 degrees Celsius (104°F).source: Naija.ng