Climate change is expected to significantly impact human health, particularly in lower-income populations in tropical/subtropical regions. Vulnerability to these health threats is influenced by socio-economic factors, local environmental conditions, and adaptive capacities. Effective public health infrastructure and adaptive strategies are crucial for managing the health risks associated with climate change.

1. Lydia R. Leonardo, DrPH College of Public Health University of the Philippines Manila

10. “ Overall, climate change is projected to increase threats to human health,particularly in lower income populations,predominantly within tropical/subtropical countries.” Third Assessment Report the IPCC (2001)

11. “ The actual health impacts will be strongly influenced by local environmental conditions and socio-economic circumstances, and by the range of social, institutional, technological, and behavioural adaptations taken to reduce the full range of threats to health.”

13. “ The vulnerability of a population depends on factors such as population density, level of economic development, food availability, income level and distribution, local environmental conditions, pre-existing health status, and the quality and availability of public health care.”

18. An Initial Examination of Potential Association of Climate Change and Some Facets of Health Based on Philippine Weather and Health Reports Jonathan David A. Flavier MD, MA; Lead Researcher Maria Lourdes L. Baylon MA and Glenn Roy V. Paraso MD, MPH; Co-Researchers COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT FOR ENCOURAGING NSV (CMEN) 15-B Matapat Street, Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City, 1100 Philippines

20. Water-borne Diseases 1. Cholera 2. Cryptosporidiasis 3. E. coli infection 4. Giardiasis 5. Shigellosis 6. Typhoid 7. Hepatitis A

22. Rodent-Borne Diseases 1. Leptospirosis 2. Tulaeremia 3.Hemorrhagic disease 4. Tick-borne encephalitis 5. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

24. Vector-borne Diseases Jointly affected by climatic conditions, population movement, forest clearance, land-use pattern, biodiversity losses, freshwater surface configuration and human population density Examples are malaria, dengue, filariasis, schistosomiasis

27. Health outcomes measured in climate change Food and water-borne disease - Diarrhoea episodes Vector-borne disease - Malaria cases Natural disasters - Fatal unintentional injuries Risk of malnutrition - Non-availability of recommended daily calorie intake *All natural disaster impacts are separately attributed to coastal floods and to inland floods/

28. • changes in air pollution and aeroallergen levels • altered transmission of other infectious diseases • effects on food production via climatic influences on plant pests and diseases • drought and famine population displacement due to natural disasters, crop failure, water shortages Health Impacts that are not currently quantifiable (1)

29. • destruction of health infrastructure in natural disasters • conflict over natural resources • direct impacts of heat and cold Health Impacts that are not currently quantifiable (2)

30. Adaptation “ Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.”

31. Adaptive Capacity “ The ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with consequences.”

32. The extent to which human health is affected depends on: (i) The exposures of populations to climate change and its environmental consequences, (ii) the sensitivity of the population to the exposure, and (iii) the ability of affected systems and populations to adapt

33. The rebuilding and maintaining of public health infrastructure is often viewed as the“most important, cost- effective and urgently needed” adaptation strategy. This includes public health training, more effective surveillance and emergency response systems, and sustainable prevention and control programs.

34. Thank you.