Climate change is estimated to cause some 150 000 deaths annually, a figure that could double by 2030. The lack of a credible global system to reduce greenhouse gases is one example of the difficulties of finding a path for collective action on issues that affect the whole world. Could a better understanding of the impact climate change has on human health help break the political impasse?
Environmental experts predict increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, that coastal areas will receive more rain and inland areas more droughts, and more frequent extreme weather events. However, estimating the burden of disease due to climate change is difficult. Climate change will have the most severe impact on countries with a low capacity to adapt. But if changes happen rapidly even rich countries will suffer problems such as heat stress, more respiratory illness, and changes in vector- and rodent-borne diseases. Some projections estimate that in 80 years climate change may double the population living in areas at risk for dengue fever and increase by 2–4% the proportion of people living in malaria risk areas.
Even if an international agreement on emissions was reached, it would not stave off the existing effects of climate change on health. Specific interventions are therefore necessary, but first we need more research and evidence. There is an urgent need to standardize international protocols for surveillance to monitor changes to human-health indicators as the climate alters. And the international community must help developing countries build up the preventive and adaptive capacity through financial and technical assistance. ■
Environmental experts predict increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, that coastal areas will receive more rain and inland areas more droughts, and more frequent extreme weather events. However, estimating the burden of disease due to climate change is difficult. Climate change will have the most severe impact on countries with a low capacity to adapt. But if changes happen rapidly even rich countries will suffer problems such as heat stress, more respiratory illness, and changes in vector- and rodent-borne diseases. Some projections estimate that in 80 years climate change may double the population living in areas at risk for dengue fever and increase by 2–4% the proportion of people living in malaria risk areas.
Even if an international agreement on emissions was reached, it would not stave off the existing effects of climate change on health. Specific interventions are therefore necessary, but first we need more research and evidence. There is an urgent need to standardize international protocols for surveillance to monitor changes to human-health indicators as the climate alters. And the international community must help developing countries build up the preventive and adaptive capacity through financial and technical assistance. ■
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