A guest blog by Lauren Smith.
Earth Day 2010 is not just about climate change or the revisions to the US climate bill-- it's about international health. Changing weather patterns impacts human health and well-being, agricultural developments, risk of infectious diseases, air quality, indoor pollution and more. You can learn more about the impacts of climate change and health via the World Health Organization site. The WHO lists key health and climate facts that include:
- Climate change affects the fundamental requirements for health-- clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter.
- The global warming that occurred since the 1970s was causing over 140,000 excess deaths annual by the year 2004.
- Many of the major killers such as diarrhoeal disease, malnutrition, malaria and dengue are hight climate-sensitive and are expected to worsen as the climate changes.
- Areas with weak health infrastructure-- mostly in developing countries-- with be the lease able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond.
- Reducing emission of greenhouse gases through better transport, food and energy-use choices can result in improved health.
You can also learn about the international impacts of climate change and health by viewing the United States Environmental Protection Agency site. Here you can click on different regions, download reports and learn about each regions climate vulnerability.
