Protecting Human Health
Global environment changes in the last few years have lead to the malfunctioning of many systems of nature. Apart from that, they have also had an effect on the health of the human population.
Climate and weather affect the air people breathe, the food they eat, and the water they drink. In fact, air, food, and water are key factors in determining human health. Climate and weather influence the frequency of floods, storms, droughts, and heat waves, all of which have the potential to worsen existing health challenges, such as being able to control water-borne diseases or provide adequate water supplies.
Because of the growing concern over the climate’s impact on human health, the 2008 World Health Assembly – the 193 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) – passed a resolution that called for more research on the links between climate, health, and the policies that address climate change. Specifically, the resolution seeks to promote research in the following areas:
• health vulnerability to climate change, as well as the scale and nature of that vulnerability
• assessment of the resources necessary (including financial costs) for health protection from climate change
• health impacts of potential adaptation and mitigation measures in sectors such as transport, land use, and water resources
• decision-support tools and tools to assess vulnerability and health impacts as well as to target measures appropriately
• strategies and measures for health protection from climate change, as well as the effectiveness (including cost-effectiveness) of those strategies and measures
The WHO Global Consultation on Health and Climate Change
In response to the Assembly’s resolution, the WHO conducted a global consultation that included public health researchers and practitioners, experts on climate change, and representatives from the United Nations (UN) and other agencies. The consultation participants produced background reports that addressed themes identified by the resolution.
After the reports were produced, the WHO led an online consortium and then conducted a three-day workshop. Over 70 leading researchers, health practitioners, and representatives from UN agencies attended the workshop, along with representatives from funding bodies. The recommendations that came out of this process were consolidated into the WHO report Protecting Health from Climate Change: Global Research Priorities.
The WHO Consultation Recommendations
The WHO report makes a number of recommendations about how to prioritize research and risk assessment, with regard to health and climate change. Most importantly, research on climate change and health should not be treated as an isolated issue. Rather, such research should be conducted within the context of improving health and health equity across the globe. To do so, future research should take into account the following considerations:
• addressing current health challenges that could be made worse by climate change
• leveraging the vast body of existing research, such as controlling infectious disease and managing environmental health risks
• responding directly to decision-makers, particularly those responsible for the health of vulnerable populations
• providing information on the health consequences of decisions related to such topics as the treatment of diseases that are affected by climate, the mitigation of climate change, and the management of climate risks and vulnerability factors
• assisting decision-makers in prioritizing their use of resources and ensuring that research builds on the ongoing efforts to address health challenges
The WHO report states that such research will require a sustained process to update and adapt priorities and mobilize resources. This can best be accomplished by the establishment if a virtual forum that highlights opportunities for research funding and training as well as the collaboration on research projects. But the time to act is now. The potential magnitude of the health risks associated with climate change are too great to be ignored, and addressing this threat requires the full support of the international community.
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