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Monthly Communiqué - Issue # 803
Date: April 2008
Subject: Health Management
Topic: Protecting Health from Climate Change
Protecting
Health From Climate Change
HSE & QA - PIAC [email protected]
A BOY SLEEPS ON A DRIEDA BOY SLEEPS ON A DRIED--UP RIVER BED IN INDIA. UP RIVER BED IN INDIA. This photo by Nimia Chandra won a special mention in WHO photo cThis photo by Nimia Chandra won a special mention in WHO photo contest images of Health and Environmentontest images of Health and Environment..
World Health Day, on 7 April, marks the founding of the World Health Organization and is an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major
importance to global health each year.
WHO selected this theme in recognition that climate change is posing ever growing threats to global public health security.
“Climate Change & Health”Eight Distressing FactsEight Distressing Facts
FACTFACT--11Over the last 50 years, human activities have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to affect the global climate.
The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased bymore than 30% since pre-industrial times, trapping more heat in the lower atmosphere.
The resulting changes in the global climate bring a range of risks to health, from deaths in extreme temperatures to changing patterns of infectious diseases.
FACTFACT--22From the tropics to the arctic, climate and weather have powerful direct and indirect impacts on human life.
Weather extremes - such as heavy rains, floods, and disasters endanger health as well as destroy property and livelihoods.
FACT-3
Intense fluctuations in temperature can also seriously affect human health.
Causing heat stress (hyperthermia) or extreme cold (hypothermia), leading to increased death rates from heart and respiratory diseases.
FACT-4Increasing global temperatures affect levels and seasonal patterns of both man-made and natural air-borne particles which can trigger asthma.
About 300 million people suffer from asthma, and 255 000 people died of the disease in 2005.
Asthma deaths are expected to increase by almost 20% in the next 10 years if urgent actions to curb climate change and prepare for its consequences are not taken.
FACT-5Rising sea levels - another outcome of global warming - increase the risk of coastal flooding, and could cause population displacement.
More than half of the world's population now lives within 60 kilometers of shorelines.
Floods can directly cause injury and death, and increase risks of infection from water and vector-borne diseases.
Population displacement could increase tensions and potentially the risks of conflict.
FACT-6More variable rainfall patterns are likely to compromise the supply of fresh water.
Globally, water scarcity already affects four out of every 10 people.
A lack of water and poor water quality can compromise hygiene and health.
This increases the risk of diarrhea, which kills approximately 1.8 million people every year, as well as trachoma (an eye infection that can lead to blindness) and other illnesses.
FACT-7
Climatic conditions affect diseases transmitted through water, and via vectors such as mosquitoes.
Climate-sensitive diseases are among the largest global killers.
Diarrhea, malaria and protein-energy malnutrition alone caused more than 3 million deaths globally in 2002, with over one third of these deaths occurring in Africa.
FACT-8
Climate change is projected to approximately double by the 2050s at risk of hunger and associated health effects.
Malnutrition causes millions of deaths each year, from both a lack of sufficient nutrients to sustain life and a resulting vulnerability to infectious diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses.
CHAD: More frequent and intense drought can cause food shortages, and potentially population displacement and increasing tension and conflict between communities.
Female Aedes aegypti mosquito, during blood meal. A vector of dengue and other viral diseases, and highly sensitive to climate conditions.
“Health is one of the most affected areas by climate change” …
… and it is being affected now
Protection of health from climate change calls for a
“Preventive Public Health Approach”
Cross-sector, interdisciplinary partnerships are required to meet this
global health threat.
Act should begin now …
What Govt. & Policy Makers Should Do…
What Govt. & Policy Makers Should Do…
Make national and international commitments to reduce exposures
to and effects of climate change.
Assess information on climate change and health and ensure that
the priority issues receive the necessary high-level attention.
Ensure that government budgets for environment, health and other
sectors are adequate to support improvement programs.
Raise awareness among all sectors (energy, transport, urban
planning, agriculture, economics, industry) of the health impact of
climate change.
What Education Sector Should Do…
What Education Sector Should Do…
Provide teachers with accessible materials to educate students on
the impacts of climate change on health.
Provide accessible materials to illustrate that students can become
leaders to stimulate behavior change that can mitigate climate
change and protect their future.
Disseminate information on solutions that already exist and those
that are under development to stimulate academic interest and
foster a group of new scientists, engineers, health professionals
and political leaders.
What Societies, Media & Unions Should Do…
What Societies, Media & Unions Should Do…
Put pressure on authorities to engage in mitigation actions that
move towards carbon-neutral, sustainable operations and future
endeavors.
Encourage planning and funding to address health consequences of
the unavoidable climate change guaranteed by previous emissions.
Build community awareness about placing health at the heart of
the climate change agenda.
Influence local and national policies, and hold authorities
accountable for their actions and for the services they provide.
Encourage maximum energy efficiency and conservation through
simple actions.
What general public should do …
Learn, Share & Act
Learn more about the health effects of climate change and
practical ways to protect health now and into the future.
Share this information with family, friends and colleagues.
Take action both to adapt to current health threats and
prevent future changes.
Protect yourself and your family
Actions should be focused on current local health threats
related to climate change.
In areas where extreme weather may develop a condition
where certain diseases may become a greater risk, you
can learn to recognize symptoms of disease and teach
your children to take precautions.
Watch out for your activities
Check your daily routine and change those activities which
are contributing to damage to climate.
You can help prevent future damage by reducing the
amount of carbon dioxide (CO2, one of the most important
greenhouse gases) you produce through your transport,
heating, cooling, lighting and other activities.
Advocate for healthier and fairer climate change policies.
While individual action will make a difference, broad
system-level changes will be required to make the kind of
carbon reductions needed to protect health.
Join with others and work to reduce the carbon footprints
of your workplace, community, city, country and the
whole world.
Final Word …
Climate change is a reality.
Human activities are a major cause.
Human activities can also be the solution.
We must act now, together, to find ways to safeguard human health.
All our efforts will contribute.
Regards
Samir Ahmed
Health, Safety, Environment & [email protected]
(+92) 300 9239440, (+92) 21 9045162
References:
Official Website - World Health Organization
Climate Change Website – United Nations
Human Development Report - UNDP
