Protecting Health from Climate Change

Slide 1: Monthly Communiqué - Issue # 803 Subject: Health Management Date: April 2008 Topic: Protecting Health from Climate Change Protecting Health From Climate Change HSE & QA - PIAC Samir-Ahmed@live.com

Slide 2: A BOY SLEEPS ON A DRIED-UP RIVER BED IN INDIA. This photo by Nimia Chandra won a special mention in WHO photo contest images of Health and Environment.

Slide 3: 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.

Slide 4: “Climate Change & Health” Eight Distressing Facts

Slide 5: FACT-1 Over 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 by more 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.

Slide 6: FACT-2 From 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.

Slide 7: 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.

Slide 8: FACT-4 Increasing 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.

Slide 9: FACT-5 Rising 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.

Slide 10: FACT-6 More 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.

Slide 11: 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.

Slide 12: FACT-8 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. Climate change is projected to approximately double by the 2050s at risk of hunger and associated health effects.

Slide 13: CHAD: More frequent and intense drought can cause food shortages, and potentially population displacement and increasing tension and conflict between communities.

Slide 14: Female Aedes aegypti mosquito, during blood meal. A vector of dengue and other viral diseases, and highly sensitive to climate conditions.

Slide 15: “Health is one of the most affected areas by climate change” … … and it is being affected now

Slide 16: Protection of health from climate change calls for a “Preventive Public Health Approach”

Slide 17: Cross-sector, interdisciplinary partnerships are required to meet this global health threat.

Slide 18: Act should begin now …

Slide 19: What Govt. & Policy Makers Should Do…

Slide 20: 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.

Slide 21: What Education Sector Should Do…

Slide 22: 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.

Slide 23: What Societies, Media & Unions Should Do…

Slide 24: 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.

Slide 25: What general public should do …

Slide 26: 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.

Slide 27: 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.

Slide 28: 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.

Slide 29: 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.

Slide 30: Final Word …

Slide 31: 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.

Slide 32: Regards Samir Ahmed Health, Safety, Environment & Quality Samir-Ahmed@live.com (+92) 300 9239440, (+92) 21 9045162 References: Official Website - World Health Organization Climate Change Website – United Nations Human Development Report - UNDP