Download Climate Health Impact introductory presentation

Introductory presentation
Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and
oceans since the mid-20th century, and its projected continuation.
Global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18°C during the 100 years ending in 2005
due to an enhanced greenhouse effect. Climate model projections indicate that average
global surface temperature will likely rise a further 1.1 to 6.4°C during the 21st century.
Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming and sea level rise are
expected to continue for more than a thousand years even if greenhouse gas levels are
stabilised.
Natural
Natural greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and even ozone. The
amounts of all these gases in the atmosphere are now
being increased as a result of man-made processes, such
as fossil fuel burning and deforestation.
Domestic
Domestic processes such as the use of petrol/diesel-driven
transport, and electricity and gas for
heating/cooking/cleaning.
Industry
Carbon dioxide is the main emission of most industries.
The crop and livestock sectors’ main emissions are nitrous
oxide and methane - both much more potent than carbon
dioxide in their greenhouse gas effect.
Agriculture
Agriculture is responsible for the majority of the
UK's nitrous oxide emissions caused by microbial
activity in soils as a result of the application of
nitrogen fertilisers - organic and inorganic essential for healthy crop growth. Methane
emissions come mainly from livestock and
manures.
Resource utilisation and population dynamics
In the 20th century, human population multiplied
from 1.6 billion to 6.1 billion people. During this
same period of time, CO2 emissions grew twelvefold. Population, global warming and
consumption patterns are inextricably linked in
their collective global environmental impact.
An increase in global temperature will have a huge impact on our earth, including some
significant changes:
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A rise in sea levels
An increase in the intensity of extreme weather
Changes in agricultural yields
Glacier retreat
Mass species extinctions
Increases in the ranges of certain diseases.
Climate change is an emerging threat to public health. Millions of people are at risk of
health problems stemming from floods, drought, windstorms and the spread of disease
enabled by warming temperatures.
• Temperature: heat-related deaths could increase to
around 2800 cases per year.
• Flooding: there may be an increased frequency of
severe coastal and river floods.
• Vector-borne diseases: diseases transmitted by
mosquitoes or ticks are climate-sensitive and can
increase or be introduced due to climate change.
• Water-borne disease: climate change might
increase levels of cholera and Typhoid in water.
• UV exposure: levels of UV radiation reaching the
earth’s surface may increase due to sunnier
summers, a decline in cloud cover and ozone
depletion.
Adaptation consists of initiatives and measures to reduce the vulnerability of natural
and human systems to actual or expected climate change effects.
Priorities for adaptation:
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Improved water resource management
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Coastal and river flood defence programmes
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Management of wildlife, forestry and agriculture
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Improved long-term and short-term risk prediction
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Vector and host control
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Access to information and technology, and awareness of climate change
impacts
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Disease surveillance and health protection measures
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Treatment and vaccination.
Game objectives:
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Develop understanding of the need to consider and research
the interactions between global warming and human health
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To realise the importance of researching diseases to reduce
human suffering
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To understand that countries have to implement changes in
order to adapt to the effects of global warming in relation to
human health and disease
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To raise awareness of the present and future social impacts of
biomedical research and development in the context of global
warming.
This game will introduce you to the effects of global warming on the world’s population.
You, the player must sustain the health of the global community by implementing
strategies and performing research in order to prevent disease and combat the effects of
global warming.
The time slider allows you to view various statistics
through time, such as global temperature,
population and sea levels.
Click these to view
different statistics on
the globe.
Bar showing the current population
statistics, funds available and the
current year.
A quick tutorial
Roll over the area buttons to view
the area's population and what
diseases are epidemic.
Click the Research and Diagnose button to
view the Disease Research panel.
Unknown diseases are added here when
they appear on the globe as '???'.
Click a '???' button to view the symptoms
and diagnose the disease. When you get it
correct, it is available to research.
Clicking on the area buttons lets you see what
diseases have appeared in the area, as well as a
list of policies available. Applying policies helps
prevent diseases spreading.
By looking at the symptoms, choose the
correct disease from the drop-down box.
If you get it right, you receive more
funds. If you get it wrong, more money
is added to the research price.
When the time runs out you are given a breakdown of your score, including the amount of people you
saved (or didn’t save), your diagnosis ability, the policies you chose, and the diseases you successfully
researched. All you need to do now is play again and try and beat that score.
Climate change is a significant and emerging threat to public health, and changes the way we
must look at protecting vulnerable populations.
The impacts of climate on human health will not be evenly distributed around the world.
Developing-country populations, particularly in small island states, arid and high mountain zones,
and in densely populated coastal areas, are considered to be particularly vulnerable. Fortunately,
much of the health risk is avoidable through existing health programmes and interventions.
Ways to help:
Continue to draw to the attention of the public and policy-makers the serious risk of
climate change to global health.
Propose health measures and integrate them into plans for adaptation to climate change
as appropriate.
Promote effective engagement of the health sector and its collaboration with all related
sectors, agencies and key partners at national and global levels in order to reduce the current and
projected health risks from climate change.