The Impact of The Impact of Global Warming in Global Warming in

Poor CountriesPoor CountriesO. Saavedra, MD, FACPO. Saavedra, MD, FACP

Impacts & InequalitiesImpacts & Inequalities

““Catastrophes are not democratic.”Catastrophes are not democratic.”

Loss of healthy life years in Africa will be 500 Loss of healthy life years in Africa will be 500 times that in Europetimes that in Europe

IPCC – adverse health effects in poor IPCC – adverse health effects in poor countriescountries

Unequal access to environmental Unequal access to environmental fundamentalsfundamentals

1.1 billion people lack safe drinking water1.1 billion people lack safe drinking water

2.6 billion lack basic sanitation2.6 billion lack basic sanitation

UNMDG’s - unachievableUNMDG’s - unachievable

Millennium Development Goals

Eradicate extreme hunger & poverty

Achieve universal primary education

Promote gender equality & empower women

Reduce child mortality

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases

Ensure environmental sustainability

Improve maternal health

Develop global partnership for development

““Of all the forms of Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in inequality, injustice in

health is the most health is the most shocking and the most shocking and the most

inhumane”inhumane”Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Poor Countries and Climate Poor Countries and Climate ChangeChange

Economy dependency on agricultureEconomy dependency on agriculture Population growth, rainfall pattern, waterPopulation growth, rainfall pattern, water Falls in crop yields – increase undernourishedFalls in crop yields – increase undernourished Diverting fertile land to biofuel productionDiverting fertile land to biofuel production Deforestation. Intern. Alliance of Forest PeopleDeforestation. Intern. Alliance of Forest People Extreme eventsExtreme events Climate sensitive viral diseases: humans, etcClimate sensitive viral diseases: humans, etc Increase in conflicts, displacementIncrease in conflicts, displacement

11th Annual Earth Day Expo

Saturday, April 26, 2008 – Winnie Palmer Hospital Auditorium

Earth Web Foundation

Vision statement

“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things are connected.”

Chief Seatle,1864

Dedicated to strengthening the threads that connect all of us by focusing on health, environmental and educational initiatives.

Empowering individuals of all races, socioeconomic classes and nations to improve living conditions for current and future generations

Our ResponseOur Response

Public education – improving awarenessPublic education – improving awareness Medical curriculum – minimize GHGsMedical curriculum – minimize GHGs Health sector training, disaster Health sector training, disaster

preparednesspreparedness Prevention = vaccines, pest control, Prevention = vaccines, pest control,

food hygiene, nutritional supportfood hygiene, nutritional support Health care to all – “a human right”Health care to all – “a human right” CDC (www.cdc.gov/nceh/climatechange)CDC (www.cdc.gov/nceh/climatechange)