conference: climate change «climate change» friday 21 november 2014 gaia environmental center,...
TRANSCRIPT
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
21/11/2014
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 health-determining 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?
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? 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 pre-existing 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 responseIn 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
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
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 Heat stroke
most common cause of weather-related deaths
Dehydration
Mostly affects 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
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
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
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.phpUoA Medical School MSc:Environment and Health. Capacity building for Decision Making
http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/about.php
21/11/2014
Climate change adds complexity and uncertainty to human health issues such as emerging infectious diseasesfood 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 requestedUoA 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 healthMedicalPublic healthVeterinary
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 -
Thank you