Climate Shocks Can Escalate Conflicts, Cause More Deaths: IMF

News Desk

Islamabad: By 2060, conflict-related deaths could increase by 8.5 per cent in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS), while deaths in countries with extreme temperature increases could increase by 14 per cent, according to a report.

In a recently released report, IMF states that climate change threatens to exacerbate conflicts and increase deaths in vulnerable countries around the world. Although climate change alone cannot generate new unrest, it significantly fuels conflict which exacerbates and complicates problems such as hunger, poverty and displacement, IMF added.

According to the World Bank’s classification, there are about one billion people living in 39 countries, and 43 per cent of the world’s population falls under the category of FCS. More than half of these countries are African countries that suffer from a disproportionate burden of climate change.

The IMF warned that more than 50 million people in these countries could go hungry by 2060 due to low food production and rising grain prices.

Economic losses from climate change are more severe and persistent in vulnerable countries than in other countries, the agency said.

Climate shocks worsen conflict. In a high emissions scenario, deaths from conflict as a share of the population could increase by close to 10 percent in fragile countries by 2060.

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— IMF (@IMFNews) August 30, 2023

The IMF further stated that it is vital that leaders gathering next week for the first African Climate Summit in Kenya find solutions to the problems facing vulnerable countries.

Every year, three times more people are affected by natural disasters in fragile states than in other countries. Moreover, disasters in vulnerable states displace more than twice the population of other countries, informed IMF.

By 2040, these countries could experience an average of 61 days a year above 35°C, four times more than other countries.

The global body added that extreme heat and the accompanying effects of climate change will threaten human health, and harm productivity and jobs in key sectors such as agriculture and construction.