(First in a series)

MANILA, Philippines – Glaciers are melting, sea level is rising and severe storms are becoming more frequent. These are some of the effects of climate change brought about by carbon that humans let loose in the atmosphere, mostly from fuels burned to run cars, trucks and power plants.

More and more people continue to learn about the devastation brought about by climate change, including adaptation and mitigation strategies. Unfortunately, not enough is being said about the health effects of climate change.

Climate change is the greatest threat to global health in this century. It is not just an environmental issue but also a health issue.

Cost of avoiding climate change

An advanced country’s estimate is one to two percent of annual world gross domestic product if we do everything to reduce carbon emissions to adapt to climate change. On the other hand, if we do nothing, it will cost us five to 20 percent of world gross domestic product yearly in health costs.

The earth’s average surface temperature is most likely to rise exceeding the safe level of 2°C above preindustrial average temperature. A 0.76°C rise has already occurred, and a severe 3-4°C rise is foreseen at the rate we generate carbon emissions.

Climate change will affect our health through changing patterns of disease, availability of food and water. Buildings and communities are not designed to cope with climate change. There is a crying need for reforestation, disaster risk assessment and community mobilization.

Global warming

Global warming will increase as temperature rises causing erratic weather conditions that bring about frequent severe floods, droughts, heat waves and storms reducing water and food supply. This will have a severe effect on the lives of billions of people.

People in urban areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change, as are people with pre-existing respiratory diseases.

The heat waves of Europe in 2003 caused up to 70,000 deaths, especially from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. The 2006 heat wave of California showed an increase in cardiovascular illnesses.

Rising temperatures will also affect the spread and transmission of diseases. Mosquitoes responsible for malaria will grow, as their abundance is amplified with warming.

By 2080, about six billion people will be at risk of contacting dengue fever due to climate change.

A study suggests that half of the population of the world could face severe food shortages by the end of the century because rising temperatures affect farmers’ crops.