climate change and health 1 |1 | climate change, health & health professionals diarmid...
TRANSCRIPT
Climate change and health1 |
Climate Change, Health & Health Professionals
Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum,Public Health and Environment Department,
World Health Organization,Geneva
Climate Change, Health & Health Professionals
Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum,Public Health and Environment Department,
World Health Organization,Geneva
Climate change and health2 |
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.
Climate change and health3 |
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.
Climate change and health4 |
Deaths During Summer Heatwave. Paris Funeral Services (2003)
Colorado, June 2012
Weather-related disasters kill thousands in rich and poor countries
Climate change and health5 |
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
Climate change and health6 |
Everyone acknowledges that health is central to climate change- but not followed through to action
LDCs identifying health as adaptation priority
Number of adaptation projects submitted
Funds requested for health Funds awarded for health
Climate change and health7 |
We neglect prevention – and pay the price
Source: Estimated from OECD, WHO, and Prevention Institute data
Each year from 2000-2008:
• life expectancy rose 0.5%
• health costs rose 6 %Other
Alcohol
Unsafe Sex
TobaccoPhysical Inactivity
Illicit drugs
Environment
Treatment & Overhead
Prevention < 5%
Factors influencing health World-wide health expenditures
US $ 5.3 Trillion
Climate change and health8 |
So what do we need to do about it?
Climate change and health9 |
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”?
Climate change and health10 |
We have proven interventions for climate-sensitive risks – we need to expand coverage, and ensure that they are climate resilient.
Build on public health actions as effective "adaptation" measures
Change in malaria endemicity class, 1900-present:(Gething et al, Nature, 2010)
Climate change and health11 |
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.
We can protect health while reducing emissions
"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
Climate change and health12 |
Physical activity
Obesity Depression
Infrastructure costs
Social capital
Cardiovascular
diseases
CO2
Air pollution
Injuries
True Primary Prevention
Slide courtesy of Howie Frumkin, US CDC
Climate change and health13 |
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.
Climate change and health14 |
Health professionals as a key voice
Climate change and health15 |
Climate change and health16 |
Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum
With thanks to Susan Wilburn and Elaine Fletcher
World Health Organizationhttp://www.who.int/
Public Health and Environment
http://www.who.int/phe/en/
Climate Changehttp://www.who.int/globalchange
/climate/