HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT: WHY PAY FOR A PLASTIC CARRIER BAG? — ZEMA EXPLAINS COINloss.TWO SIDES THE SAME
word ‘fridge’ or ‘refrigerator’ is common in our everyday conversations. It may not be far from the truth to state that at least 75 per cent of town homes in
And the opposite is true; the
Zambia own a refrigerator,
degradation of the environment
used for cooling, mainly food
– the air we breathe, food we
items for extended freshness.
eat, the water we drink, and
Most often than not, when
ecosystems which sustain
one takes their faulty
us – is, according to
refrigerator to a repairer, the
United Nations Environment
common detected problem
Programme (UNEP), estimated
is ‘Exhausted Gas’. The
to be responsible for at least
repairer would also talk about
a quarter of the global total
pressurizing the refrigerator
burden of disease.
with more gas.
According to a 2016 report But what is this gas? Where by UNEP entitled Healthy does it come from? Is it natural Environment, Healthy People, or human made? How does it environmental degradation impact us and the environment is estimated to cause 174 to in general? This article answers 234 times as many premature some of these questions. deaths as occur in conflicts
So here is the story. The annually. Disproportionate so-called gases used in impacts of environmental refrigerators, air conditioners, harms are evident on specific foam food packaging, groups—the poor, young, and fire extinguishers, are elderly, women and migrant Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) workers, the report noted. and Hydrofluorocarbons
Zika, Ebola, MERS, SARS and (HFCs)—a group of odourless other new zoonotic diseases manufactured chemical (spread from animals to compounds. humans) such as the current
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) COVID-19 pandemic (still being have existed since 1930s, studied but initial analysis used in refrigeration and showing that it also originated air-conditioning. These were from animals), are believed to observed to be depleting the be on the rise mainly attributed Ozone Layer in the 1970s and to exponential population the global community agreed growth, intensive livestock to phase them out. Production breeding, related to disturbed of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons environments and biodiversity (HCFCs), which are now mostly used The in financial modern costs refrigerators of and environmentally aircons commenced related health in the 1980s risks are as generally a transitional in the measure. range of 5 to10 per cent of GDP, with air pollution taking the highest toll. The Air Ozone pollution layer is the is a world’s band of largest naturally single occurring environmental gas in risk the to health stratosphere (some 7 (10-50 million km people altitude). across the If the world total die volume each year were due to compressed daily exposure to sea to poor level air pressure, quality). it constitutes a layer of about Further, 3mm it thick. is estimated that lack Its of presence access to is vital clean for water the survival and sanitation of life on causes earth 58 as it per serves cent of as cases a shield of diarrhoeal against exposure diseases in to low direct and radiation middle- (UB-V). income Thus, countries. depletion Unsafe of water, ozone inadequate layer leads sanitation to dire consequences or insufficient hygiene on human result health in and 3.5 million the environment. deaths worldwide, representing While Small 25 quantities per cent of UV-B the radiation premature are deaths essential of children to human health, younger for than generation 14 years. of Vitamin D, Unfortunately, excess amounts climate produce skin cancer, change cataracts is worsening and the immuno- suppression. scale and intensity It is also of these said to cause environment-related severe photo-allergies health and risks, accelerated and is acknowledged ageing of the as skin. a major In some health cases, risk multiplier, it has also been with existing shown to impacts activate that viruses such are expected as Herpes. to increasingly affect Global human efforts health to deal including with ODS through are negative traced to changes the 1970s to land, oceans, biodiversity and access to freshwater, and the increasing frequency and higher impact of natural disasters.
Evidence exists, however, of the catalytic and multiple benefits of investing in environmental quality in terms of development, poverty reduction, resource security, reduced inequities reduced risks to human health and well-being.
A healthy environment (clean air and water, sanitation and green spaces), among others, is not only associated with a and reduced 1980s disease when the burden Vienna but Convention also lowers on levels the of Protection stress and of the reduced Ozone symptomology Layer was adopted for in 1985. depression This was and quickly anxiety. followed by It the is against adoption this of background the Montreal Protocol that an integrated on Ozone approach Depleting is Substances. promoted for improving human health And and Zambia well-being has been through actively involved increased in engagement the implementation by the of health the Vienna sector Convention in ecosystem on the management Protection and of the decision- Ozone Layer, making. together with the Protocol and Thus, its amendments. it is believed that The recent enhancing amendment ecosystem is the Kigali Amendment resilience and of protection 2016, which of came planet’s into force natural on 1st systems January, 2019. is not negotiable. This
As earlier alluded to, Chlorofluorocarbons includes building capacity of (CFCs) the environment, were replaced economies by Hydrofluorocarbons and societies to anticipate, (HFCs). However, respond to the and production recover from and disturbances consumption and of shocks Hydrofluorocarbons through agro-ecosystem (HFCs) has restoration been found and sustainable to be a bigger farming concern systems; as strengthening they are ecosystem potent global restoration, warming in causing particular Greenhouse wetlands, dryland Gases (GHGs). vegetation, According coastal zones to the UN Environment, and watersheds, reduction through and ultimate reforestation phase-out and reducing of HFCs would help to avoid global
emphasised the on Amendment, World Health all Day countries (7th April, will gradually 2020) during phase which down HFCs the World by more Health than Organization 80 percent over (WHO) the next called 30 for years strengthening and replace of them the global with health more environmentally workforce. friendly alternatives. A new report, State of the Zambia World’s is Nursing yet to ratify 2020, the identified Kigali Amendment important but gaps the in the nursing process workforce is already and underway. priority areas “In fulfilling for investment the Zambian in nursing education, government jobs, commitment and leadership to strengthen the Montreal nursing Protocol around the world Amendments, and improve government health for all. is And in the in process solidarity of with ratifying health professionals the Kigali Amendment who are doing to the everything Montreal Protocol. humanly Recently, possible to Cabinet save lives, gave the approval Zambia for the Environmental ratification. And Management ZEMA, under Agency the auspices (ZEMA) of the takes Ministry this of opportunity Water Development, to remind Sanitation the public that and we Environmental can make the Protection, burden of is working our health on colleagues the ratification lighter during protocols this for critical submission period to by adhering Parliament,” to the explains preventive Mrs. measures Chipili. that have been prescribed In Zambia, to ODS stop the are spread of COVID-19. regulated by the Environmental Management Just in case (Licensing) you have forgotten; Regulations here Statutory are some Instrument of the measures: No.112 of 2013 covering a variety of matters regarding environmental protection including air quality control, waste management, hazardous waste and other substances harmful to the environment such as pesticides.
ZEMA is working towards fulfilling obligations the Montreal Protocol and is thus collaborating with stakeholders among them; government, industry, civil society and the refrigeration sector.
“The Agency is committed to assist the Zambian community in the phase-out of ozone depleting substances and reducing the impact of the same on global warming,” assures John Msimuko, ZEMA Director General.