Download WHO, Fact sheet N°266,Reviewed August 2014

CONFERENCE:
«Climate Change»
FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2014
GAIA Environmental Center, Goulandris Natural History Museum
Climate Change: The impact on Health
Dr. P. Nicolopoulou-Stamati MD. PhD.
Scientific Director of MSc "Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making"
Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
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Climate change affects the social and environmental determinants of
health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure
shelter.
Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause
approximately 250.000 additional deaths per year, from
malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress.
The direct damage costs to health (i.e. excluding costs in healthdetermining sectors such as agriculture and water and sanitation), is
estimated to be between US$ 2-4 billion/year by 2030.
Areas with weak health infrastructure – mostly in developing
countries – will be the least able to cope without assistance to
prepare and respond.
Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases through better transport,
food and energy-use choices can result in improved health,
particularly through reduced air pollution.
WHO, Fact sheet N°266,Reviewed August 2014
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
What is the impact of climate
change on health?
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Although global warming may bring some
localized benefits, such as fewer winter deaths in
temperate climates and increased food
production in certain areas, the overall health
effects of a changing climate are likely to be
overwhelmingly negative. Climate change affects
social and environmental determinants of health
– clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food
and secure shelter.
WHO, Fact sheet N°266,Reviewed August 2014
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
Who is at risk?
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All populations will be affected by climate change, but some are
more vulnerable than others. People living in small island
developing states and other coastal regions, megacities, and
mountainous and polar regions are particularly vulnerable.
Children – in particular, children living in poor countries – are
among the most vulnerable to the resulting health risks and will
be exposed longer to the health consequences.
Elderly people - the health effects are also expected to be more
severe for elderly people and people with infirmities or preexisting medical conditions.
Areas with weak health infrastructure – mostly in developing
countries – will be the least able to cope without assistance to
prepare and respond.
WHO, Fact sheet N°266,Reviewed August 2014
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
WHO response
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In 2009, the World Health Assembly endorsed a new WHO
work plan on climate change and health. This includes:
Advocacy: to raise awareness that climate change is a
fundamental threat to human health.
Partnerships: to coordinate with partner agencies within the
UN system, and ensure that health is properly represented in the
climate change agenda.
Science and evidence: to coordinate reviews of the scientific
evidence on the links between climate change and health, and
develop a global research agenda.
Health system strengthening: to assist countries to assess their
health vulnerabilities and build capacity to reduce health
vulnerability to climate change.
WHO, Fact sheet N°266,Reviewed August 2014
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
Major concern
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Changing dynamics of disease
transmission influenced by:
 Migration
 Land
Use
 Environmental degradation
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
Climate impacts on Human Health
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Impacts from the
 Heat
Waves
 Extreme weather events
 Reduced air quality
 Climate sensitive diseases
 Food and water security
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
Heat Waves
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Heat stroke
most common cause of
weather-related deaths
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Dehydration
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Mostly affects
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Vulnerable groups
Children
Older adults
People with medical conditions
People in poverty
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
Extreme weather events
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Reduce availability of fresh food and water
Increase stomach and intestinal illness
Contribute to mental health impacts such as
depression
Interrupt communication of health care
services
Contribute to carbon monoxide poisoning from
portable electric generators used during and
after the storms
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
Impacts from Reduced Air Quality
Increase in
ozone
 Changes in fine
particulate
matter
 Changes in
allergies
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UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
Impacts from Climate-Sensitive Diseases
Changes in climate may enhance the spread of
some diseases. Disease-causing agents
(pathogens) that can be transmitted by
food/water/animals climate change may affect
all these transmitters
One Health
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
Climate Change and Human Health
A one health approach
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
About the One Health Initiative
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The One Health concept is a worldwide strategy for
expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and
communications in all aspects of health care for humans,
animals and the environment.
The synergism achieved will advance health care for the
21st century and beyond by accelerating biomedical
research discoveries, enhancing public health efficacy,
expeditiously expanding the scientific knowledge base,
and improving medical education and clinical care.
When properly implemented, it will help protect and save
untold millions of lives in our present and future
generations.
http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/about.php
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/about.php
 Climate
change adds complexity and
uncertainty to human health issues
such as
 emerging
infectious diseases
 food security
 national sustainability planning
that intensify the importance of
interdisciplinary and collaborative
research.
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
 We
have to address the issue by a
multi-disciplinary approach as it entails
uncertainty
 Explicit
knowledge is not adequate or
sufficient to address the dynamic
future
 Tacit
knowledge is requested
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
21/11/2014
 We
have to rely on expertise from the
fields of environmental health
 Medical
 Public
health
 Veterinary
 These
health professionals must take
into account the dynamic nature of
ecosystems in a changing climate
UoA Medical School MSc:
Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
21/11/2014
"May there never develop in me the notion that my
education is complete but give me the strength
and leisure and zeal continually to
enlarge my knowledge."
- Maimonides 21/11/2014
Thank you