2. Climate Change
“A change of climate that is attributed directly or indirectly to
human activity, that alters the composition of the global
atmosphere and that is in addition to natural climate variability
observed over comparable periods of time.”*
* Article 1 United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change, 1992
** Lancet series
19. Sea level rise-SL
Coastal erosion - at 0.5m/yr
Rate of accretion – 0.2m/yr
Sea water intrusion → destruction of fresh
water resources / fresh water life
eg. Muturajawela wetlands
20. Why children?
Larger surface area
Less heat adaptive mechanisms
Consume more food & water/Kg body wt.
Longer life span
In utero period – vulnerable to environ.
toxins
No decision making powers
23. Direct Effects- Temperature Rise
High Temperature - heat stroke
Urban “Heat Island” Effect – raises temp by 5C
temp rise > 20C: each 2C → 2.6% increase in
mortality in children (Brazil)*
*chapter 8- population dynamics and climate
change – UNFPA
24. Direct Effects - Extreme Events
Floods/ landslides
Cyclones
Drought
Results –
Death/Injury,
loss of lively hood, lack of food / water
→ forced migration, poverty, conflict
25. Indirect Effects
Increase in -
Water borne diseases
vector borne diseases
Respiratory diseases (wheezing)
Lung/skin cancer
Psychological social problems – mental
health
26. Diarrheal & other GI Diseases
Higher
Mortality
Floods/Droughts
Poor Quality
of Water
Higher
Temperatures
*Protecting health from cc: Connecting science, WHO 2009
**Water supply, sanitation and hygiene Sanitation Report Series,
No. 1. World Bank, Washington
28. Poor Air Quality- Air pollution
High temperatures – increased aero
allergens → ↑ resp problems eg. BA
Study @ LRH:
↑ particulate matter (PM10) in air* :↑Wheezing
*Senanayake MP et al: SL Journal of Child Health, 2001; 30: 66-8
29. Indoor Air Pollution
Reduced/costly fossil fuel → increase use of biofuel →
indoor & outdoor air pollution
Biofuel burning → indoor air pollution → inc. in wheezing
50% deaths from ALRI (U-5 age) → due to indoor air
pollution*
Study: Galle: Chandhigar **:
kerosene: gas cooking → wheezing X2 more in Galle
* WHO fact sheet 292(2009)
**Mistry R, wickremasinghe N et al:Eur J Pediatr 2004, 163(3):145-147
30.
31. Mitigation/Adaptation - SL
The National CC Policy of Sri Lanka
Goal – mitigation/adaptation to CC
The Research Program on CC-
Agriculture and Food Security (CGIAR)
- influence the CC policy in Sri Lanka
- Raised awareness about the implications
cc
(source : www.unhabitat.lk/downloads)
32. Mitigation/Adaptation - SL
The Ministry of Environment
“ Sri Lanka Climate Change Adaptation
Strategy 2011-2016”
Disaster Management Centre (DMC)
Mitigation, Research and Development
division
Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) - Early
Warning Dissemination for natural disasters
“Climatenet” - Institute of Policy Studies, Sri
Lanka – networking CC Policy in Sri Lanka
(source: http://www.ips.lk/climatenet/index.html)