Transcript Slide 1
Climate Change, Health & Health Professionals Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Public Health and Environment Department, World Health Organization, Geneva 1| Climate change and health Climate change undermines the environmental determinants of health Without effective responses, climate change will compromise: Water quality and quantity: Contributing to a doubling of people living in water-stressed basins by 2050. Food security: In some African countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture may halve by 2020. Control of infectious disease: Increasing population living in areas climatically suitable for dengue globally by 2 billion by 2080s. Protection from disasters: Increasing exposure to coastal flooding by a factor of 10, and land area in extreme drought by a factor of 10-30. 2| Climate change and health The largest disease burdens are highly climate sensitive - Each year: - Undernutrition kills 3.5 million - Diarrhoea kills 2.2 million - Malaria kills 900,000 - - Extreme weather events kill 60,000 These, and others, are highly sensitive to changing climate. 3| Climate change and health Weather-related disasters kill thousands in rich and poor countries Deaths During Summer Heatwave. Paris Funeral Services (2003) 4| Climate change and health Colorado, June 2012 Public discussion is disconnected from the evidence 2008 US Gallup poll of US public and scientists: Do you think human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures? Doran et al, EOS, 2009 5| Climate change and health Everyone acknowledges that health is central to climate change- but not followed through to action 6| LDCs identifying health as adaptation priority Number of adaptation projects submitted Funds requested for health Funds awarded for health Climate change and health We neglect prevention – and pay the price US $ 5.3 Trillion Prevention < 5% Environment Illicit drugs Physical Inactivity Each year from 2000-2008: Tobacco Alcohol Unsafe Sex Treatment & Overhead Other Factors influencing health Source: Estimated from OECD, WHO, and Prevention Institute data 7| Climate change and health • life expectancy rose 0.5% • health costs rose 6 % World-wide health expenditures So what do we need to do about it? 8| Climate change and health Build on public interest in climate/health connections 2001 Globescan poll in 30 countries: “Now I would like to ask you some questions about climate change, which is sometimes referred to as global warming or the greenhouse effect. Which ONE of the following possible impacts most concerns you personally, if any?” 9| Climate change and health Build on public health actions as effective "adaptation" measures We have proven interventions for climate-sensitive risks – we need to expand coverage, and ensure that they are climate resilient. Change in malaria endemicity class, 1900-present: (Gething et al, Nature, 2010) 10 | Climate change and health We can protect health while reducing emissions Improved stoves could save 2 million lives over 10 years in India alone, and reduce warming from black carbon. Sustainable urban transport – could cut heart disease and stroke by up to 20%. "Health benefits from reduced air pollution as a result of actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions… may offset a substantial fraction of mitigation costs" – IPCC, 2007. 11 | Climate change and health "while the climatic effects of mitigation measures are long-term and dispersed throughout the world, the health benefits are immediate and local" – WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, 2009 True Primary Prevention CO2 Air pollution Physical activity Obesity Depression Injuries Social capital Infrastructure costs 12 | Climate change and health Slide courtesy of Howie Frumkin, US CDC Health care as a key sector 8-10% of the global GDP and 2.6% of the total GHG emissions. Up to 50% of health facilities in some major Sub-Saharan African countries have no electricity. 13 | Climate change and health Health professionals as a key voice 14 | Climate change and health 15 | Climate change and health Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum World Health Organization http://www.who.int/ Public Health and Environment http://www.who.int/phe/en/ Climate Change http://www.who.int/globalcha nge/climate/ [email protected] 16 | With thanks to Susan Wilburn Climate change and health and Elaine Fletcher