Climate change undermines the environmental determinants of health

1. Climate Change, Health & Health ProfessionalsDiarmid Campbell-Lendrum,Public Health and Environment Department,World Health Organization,Geneva

2. Climate change undermines the environmental determinants of health Without effective responses, climate change will compromise: • Water quality and quantity: Contributing to a doubling of people living in water-stressed basins by 2050. • Food security: In some African countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture may halve by 2020. • Control of infectious disease: Increasing population living in areas climatically suitable for dengue globally by 2 billion by 2080s. • Protection from disasters: Increasing exposure to coastal flooding by a factor of 10, and land area in extreme drought by a factor of 10-30.

3. The largest disease burdens are highly climate sensitive • Each year:- Undernutrition kills 3.5 million - Diarrhoea kills 2.2 million- Malaria kills 900,000 • - Extreme weather events kill 60,000These, and others, are highly sensitive to changing climate.

4. Weather-related disasters kill thousands in rich and poor countries Colorado, June 2012 Deaths During Summer Heatwave. Paris Funeral Services (2003)

5. Public discussion is disconnected from the evidence 2008 US Gallup poll of US public and scientists: Do you think human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures? Doran et al, EOS, 2009

6. Everyone acknowledges that health is central to climate change- but not followed through to action LDCs identifying health as adaptation priority Number of adaptation projects submitted Funds awarded for health Funds requested for health

7. US $ 5.3 Trillion Prevention < 5% Environment Illicit drugs Physical Inactivity Tobacco Alcohol Unsafe Sex Treatment & Overhead Other Factors influencing health World-wide health expenditures We neglect prevention – and pay the price • Each year from 2000-2008: • life expectancy rose 0.5% • health costs rose 6 % Source: Estimated from OECD, WHO, and Prevention Institute data

8. So what do we need to do about it?

9. Build on public interest in climate/health connections 2001 Globescan poll in 30 countries: “Now I would like to ask you some questions about climate change, which is sometimes referred to as global warming or the greenhouse effect. Which ONE of the following possible impacts most concerns you personally, if any?”

10. Build on public health actions as effective "adaptation" measures We have proven interventions for climate-sensitive risks – we need to expand coverage, and ensure that they are climate resilient. Change in malaria endemicity class, 1900-present: (Gething et al, Nature, 2010)

11. We can protect health while reducing emissions • Improved stoves could save 2 million lives over 10 years in India alone, and reduce warming from black carbon. • Sustainable urban transport – could cut heart disease and stroke by up to 20%. • "Health benefits from reduced air pollution as a result of actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions… may offset a substantial fraction of mitigation costs" – IPCC, 2007. "while the climatic effects of mitigation measures are long-term and dispersed throughout the world, the health benefits are immediate and local" – WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, 2009

12. True Primary Prevention Cardiovascular diseases • CO2 • Air pollution • Physical activity • Obesity • Depression •  Injuries  Social capital  Infrastructure costs Slide courtesy of Howie Frumkin, US CDC

13. Health care as a key sector • 8-10% of the global GDP and 2.6% of the total GHG emissions. • Up to 50% of health facilities in some major Sub-Saharan African countries have no electricity.

14. Health professionals as a key voice

16. Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum World Health Organization http://www.who.int/ Public Health and Environment http://www.who.int/phe/en/ Climate Change http://www.who.int/globalchange/climate/ campbelllendrumd@who.int With thanks to Susan Wilburn and Elaine Fletcher