How does climate change affect human health?

Climate change is a global phenomenon and climatologists agree that it is difficult to reverse. This adversely affects the ‘fundamental pillars of health: air, food and water’ (WHO SEARO, World Health Day Factsheet 2, 2008).

Large-scale environmental changes will cast an increasingly long shadow over the health of future populations, unless we effectively communicate these health (and concurrent non-health) risks, and enable that evidence to help society shape a sustainable way of living.

- Professor Anthony J. McMichael


	Global warming is gradual. But, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, like intense storms, heat waves, droughts and floods is on the rise. Consequences of climate change are usually dramatic, abrupt and affect entire populations. The ‘global burden of disease’ is sensitive to climate change, especially to temperature changes. Warmer temperatures also affect food production, clean water availability and spread of disease vectors (ibid). The World Health Organization in its ‘World Health Report 2002’ estimated that climate change was responsible in the year 2000, for approximately 2.4 per cent of worldwide diarrhoea, and 6 per cent of malaria in some middle-income countries (WHO India, Information Sheet 2, World Health Day, 2008). The most severe threat is to developing countries as it slows down the achievement of health-related Millennium Development Goals.

Refer To :- WHO SEARO Fact Sheet on Climate Change (World Health Day 2008) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report (2007)

Findings of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

A warming of about 0.2° C per decade is projected
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at or above current rates will induce changes in the global climate system at a greater pace in this century, than previously
Extreme weather conditions, heat waves and heavy precipitation events will become more frequent
Tropical cyclones will become more intense, with greater wind speeds and heavier precipitation
Those with least resources have the least capacity to adapt and are most vulnerable