A/78/167 key stakeholders, such as teachers and employers, frequently lack knowledge about the health needs of persons with albinism. Some individuals with albinism also have gaps in their awareness of how to protect themselves from ultraviolet radiation. Even where understanding of the existing health needs of persons with albinism among different stakeholders is high, the information received by the Expert suggests that levels of knowledge about how climate change may exacerbate those health issues or bring new health concerns is low. B. Exposure to disasters and extreme weather events 29. Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of climate and weather extremes, including heatwaves, heavy rainfall events, drought and weather that causes wildfires. Adverse impacts from tropical cyclones, with related losses and damages, have also increased due to sea level rises. 24 A submission received from Japan referred to heatwaves becoming commonplace; in 2019, an intense heatwave killed over 100 people and led to thousands being hospitalized. A recent report found that, over the past 50 years, a disaster related to either a weather, climate or water hazard has occurred every day, on average, killing over 100 people globally and causing $202 million in losses daily. 25 Information received by the Expert highlighted that, in the United Republic of Tanzania, agricultural livelihoods are being threatened by increasing temperatures, longer dry spells and unpredictable and intense rain events. In Malawi, the impact of climate change over the p ast 30 years has been catastrophic. In March 2023, the country was hit by Cyclone Freddy, the longest-running cyclone on record, and, in 2022, by two other cyclones. 30. Persons with disabilities are disproportionately at risk of the health consequences of extreme weather events – and persons with albinism are no exception. Specific data on health outcomes for persons with albinism is scarce, but the mortality rate of persons with disabilities across many disaster situations is up to four times higher than that of persons without disabilities. 26 During and after disaster situations, persons with albinism, like persons with disabilities more broadly, are at increased risk of further disability and adverse health effects compared with the general population. 27 Some persons with albinism also have additional health conditions, which increases their vulnerability in disaster situations. 31. Like other persons with disabilities, persons with albinism are often unable to prepare effectively for disasters or keep themselves safe when disasters occur because of barriers located in the environment around them. Early warnings about disasters in written or other visual formats (e.g. warning signs containing flashing lights) are not accessible to persons with albinism who have visual impairments. In addition, during disaster situations, persons with albinism may be unable to safely navigate environmental hazards to find shelter because of their visual impairment. At the same __________________ 24 25 26 27 23-13701 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “Summary for policymakers”, in Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2022), pp. 3–33. Available at www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/ IPCC_AR6_WGII_SummaryForPolicymakers.pdf. World Meteorological Organization, The Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water Extremes (1970–2019) (Geneva, 2021). Takashi Izutsu, and others, Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Humanitarian Action: An Urgent Global Imperative – Report of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Public Forum. Building Disability‐inclusive Societies in Asia and the Pacific: Assessing Progress of the Incheon Strategy (United Nations publication, 2018). 9/23