Impact of climate change on health and strategies for mitigation and adaptation

Abstract

Climate change and its negative impacts on health are now globally recognized. A wide variety of diseases and health conditions - ranging from heat and radiation-related illnesses to water and vector-borne diseases, under-nutrition, respiratory and cardiac problems, drowning, injuries and mental stress arising from extreme and sudden weather events and their resultant population displacements - all have been associated with various components of changing climate. However, the exact nature and extent of such impacts are yet to be firmly established since many other non-climate factors also produce or affect similar outcomes. This calls for more research specially from the underdeveloped countries, where such impacts are disproportionately more but reliable data are remarkably less. Recognizing the importance of human influences on global warming, almost all countries in the world have undertaken some kind of policies and measures to mitigate adverse climatic changes. Unfortunately, even without further addition of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in our climate, the amount of GHGs already released has the potential to continue the damages for many more decades to come. Thus, all countries should also place priorities in assessing their own vulnerabilities from climate change and take adaptive measures accordingly. As climate change exerts its impact simultaneously in many non-health sectors as well, this would require strong intersectoral cooperation at various levels.

The Impact of El Niño on Diarrheal Disease Incidence: A Systematic Review

“…In Fiji, diarrhea reports among infants increased by 2% per unit increase in rainfall and by 8% per unit decrease in rainfall. On another hand, when the temperature variable was lagged by one month, there was approximately a 3% increase in diarrhea cases per degree increase in temperature in the previous month [25]. Similar associations have has been observed in many other developing country settings.…”

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“…In general, climate changes can lead to reduction in health because of extreme weather conditions, environmental changes and ecological disruptions, as well as population displacements. 123 In Fiji, those at higher risk of extreme weather tend to be poor, such as Indo-Fijian farmers (living predominantly on floodplains and in grass huts) and children. 124 Following extreme weather conditions, population displacement decreases the use of crops, increases the destruction of local economies and increases resource scarcity and violence.…”

Resilience and Equity in a Time of Crises: Investing in Public Urban Greenspace Is Now More Essential Than Ever in the US and Beyond

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