The scientific consensus is that climate change affects health through
changing weather patterns (such as more intense and frequent extreme
events) and indirectly through changes in water, air, food quality and
quantity, ecosystems, agriculture, livelihoods and infrastructure. The
effects will be unevenly distributed, and those at greatest risk include
people who are poor, very young, elderly, and/or ill. Climate change can
also pose a threat to health security. Failure to respond could be very
costly in terms of disease health care expenditure and lost
productivity.
As long as climate change is not too rapid or strong, strengthening
health systems can control many of the health effects. This may include
strengthening preparedness, public health services and health security,
advocating action in other sectors to benefit health, better informing
citizens and leading by example. Health systems need to strengthen their
capacity to assess potential climate-related health effects, to review
their capacities to cope, and develop and implement adaptation and
mitigation strategies, and to strengthen a range of key areas of work -
from disease surveillance and control to disaster risk reduction - that
are essential for rapid detection of and action against climate-related
risks.
This publication intends to stimulate debate and support an active
response by providing up-to-date information on the health effects of
climate change as well as practical guidance on specific actions that
decision-makers at different levels in health and other sectors can take
now.
