Evidence is accumulating that action on climate change is eroding the fundamental determinants of health, with increased risks of death and injury from extreme weather events, infectious diseases and malnutrition. This year, floods in Pakistan and heat waves in the Russian Federation have claimed many lives, and these and other risks will increase in a changing climate.
While health protection is literally a footnote in the current text of climate change negotiations, Ministries of Health around the world are forming strategic alliances with their environmental counterparts. This report will provide an opportunity for high-level representatives from around the world to highlight important regional initiatives, in which countries commit to concrete actions to protect health from climate change.
Uniting all these initiatives is common sense, practical and positive approach. Countries are taking advantage of cost-effective public health interventions, such as improving surveillance and response to heat waves, floods and climate-sensitive disease epidemics.
Most importantly, actions to reduce greenhouse gases can also bring very large health benefits. WHO will provide a preview of the results of a new report at COP16 on "Health in the Green Economy", which documents how mitigation measures in key sectors such as household energy, transport and housing can help combat the high burden of obesity diseases, Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, both in developed and developing countries.
With information for the UNFCCC press
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Authors: Val
