By Abdul Wali Muslih, Manager, Technical and Coordination Unit, DACAAR Kabul, Afghanistan

The extreme heat in Afghanistan has significant effects on health, agriculture, and infrastructure. Agriculture suffers due to increased evaporation and reduced crop yields, impacting food security.

Extreme heat and drought can drive migration and displacement as people seek more habitable conditions. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of heat waves in Afghanistan, worsening these effects:

• Water Stress: High temperatures lead to increased evaporation rates, reducing soil moisture and exacerbating water scarcity.
• Crop Physiology: Extreme heat can affect plant growth stages, leading to reduced germination rates, poor pollination, and diminished fruit and seed set.
• Soil Degradation: Prolonged high temperatures can degrade soil quality, affecting nutrient availability and structure. Soil erosion becomes more likely as vegetation cover diminishes due to heat stress.
• Pest and Disease Pressure: Warmer temperatures can alter the life cycles of pests and diseases, potentially leading to increased infestations and crop losses.
• Economic Impact: Lower crop yields and increased production costs.

Mitigating the effects of extreme heat, especially in vulnerable regions like Afghanistan, requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are some effective actions:

• Urban Planning and Green Spaces: Increase the number of trees and shaded areas in urban settings to lower surface and air temperatures and implement green roofs and vertical gardens to reduce heat absorption in buildings.
• Water Management: Employ efficient irrigation systems like drip irrigation to optimize water use in agriculture and capture and store rainwater to support irrigation and reduce dependence on groundwater during dry spells.
• Public Health Initiative: Educate communities about the risks of extreme heat and the importance of staying hydrated and cool and establish community centers equipped with air conditioning where people can find relief during heatwaves.
• Agricultural Adaptation: Promote the use of heat and drought-resistant crop varieties to maintain food security and encourage practices that enhance soil health and moisture retention.
• Policy and Governance: Develop and implement national and local policies aimed at climate adaptation and resilience-building. For international cooperation, collaborate with global organizations to secure funding and expertise for climate resilience projects.
• Monitoring and Early Warning Systems: Implement systems to monitor temperature extremes and provide early warnings to communities about impending heatwaves.

Conclusion:

By combining these strategies, communities can build resilience against extreme heat and reduce its impacts on health, agriculture, and overall quality of life.

Eight Reasons Why Afghanistan Needs Urgent Climate Actions:

1. Afghanistan is among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change and the least ready to respond, despite emitting less than 0.01% of global greenhouse gasses emissions.
2. In 2023, Afghanistan entered its third consecutive year of drought, following the worst drought in three decades in 2022.
3. About 60% of the population relies on rain-fed agriculture, changing precipitations pose a threat to livelihoods and already severe levels of food insecurity and malnutrition.
4. Rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt and snow packs, resulting in plummeting water availability, especially in urban areas.
5. Desertification has affected over 75% of land in the Northern, Southern, and Western regions, degrading soil and impacting Agriculture.
6. Looking ahead, La Nina’s conditions are likely to become more prevalent from Jan to Mar 2025, with a 70% to 80% likelihood. Consequently, the start of the 2024/25 agriculture season is projected to face challenges, including below-average precipitation and above-average temperatures.
7. Afghanistan faces one of the World’s largest humanitarian crises, with 23.7 million people in need of aid in 2024.
8. Humanitarian action is insufficient to address Afghanistan’s climate-related vulnerabilities. Immediate action is needed to protect people over the long term and help them adapt.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of AIDMI.