WHO warns of rising number of climate change-related deaths

GENEVA (PNA/IRNA) – The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that climate change is already causing tens of thousands of deaths every year - from shifting patterns of disease, from extreme weather events, such as heat-waves and floods, and from the degradation of air quality, food and water supplies, and sanitation and called on all governments to protect the health of their people.

Saying that climate change is the defining issue of the 21st century, the WHO said the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-21) in Paris offers the world an important opportunity to not only reach a strong international climate agreement, but also to protect the health of current and future generations.

WHO considers the Paris treaty to be a significant public health treaty – one that has the potential to save lives worldwide.

In 2012, WHO estimated 7 million people died from air pollution-related diseases, making it the world’s largest single environmental health risk. It is predicted that climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year from malaria, diarrhea, heat stress and under-nutrition between 2030 and 2050.

Children, women and the poor in lower income countries will be the most vulnerable and most affected, widening health gaps.

Not only are ways to combat climate change already known and welldocumented, they can bring important health gains. As WHO’s new series of climate change and health country profiles illustrate, investments in lowcarbon development, clean renewable energy, and strengthening climate resilience, are also investments in health.

Implementing proven interventions to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, like black carbon and methane, for example achieving higher vehicle emissions and efficiency standards, would be expected to save approximately 2.4 million lives a year and reduce global warming by about 0.5°C by 2050. Placing a price on polluting fuels to compensate their negative health impacts would be expected to cut outdoor air pollution deaths by half, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 20 percent, and raise approximately US$3 trillion per year in revenue – over half the total value of health spending by all of the world’s governments.

Strengthening health resilience to climate risks, including measures such as early-warning systems for more frequent and severe heatwaves, and protection of water, sanitation, and hygiene services against floods and droughts, would ensure that recent progress against climate-sensitive diseases, is not slowed or reversed.

Nevertheless, the profound consequences for health are still not given sufficient attention in debates about climate change.