Why Are We Talking About Human Health at a Conference on Climate Change?

Erin Down is the Coordinator, New Thinking Initiative on Health and Environment, The Delphi Group.  She is at the UN Conference and attending the Conference Parallel Events on the links between climate change and health and shared her views on this issue with Canada:  Daily Highlights.

Though you may not find it listed on the agenda for any of the official UNFCCC events, the human health dimension of climate change is being examined at Parallel Events, and during several side events in Montreal.  These activities suggest that consideration of health impacts of climate change – from both adaptation and mitigation perspectives – is rising quickly in profile and urgency.

Climate change poses a substantial threat to public health and safety.  Scientific evidence continues to identify specific health concerns that are related to a changing global climate. These include health effects from smog, heat and cold waves, water and food-borne contamination, diseases transmitted by insects, ozone depletion, and extreme weather events.

Canada’s federal government has made a substantial contribution to research efforts on the health effects associated with climate change and adaptation.  Research in this area shows that the health of populations in developing countries will generally be more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.  Health-related discussions in Montreal will focus on the assessment of health impacts and adaptation strategies to reduce the risk to human health.  Participants hope to share lessons learned from the global research community and to begin to shift the dialogue towards health protection action.

As well, there is growing recognition that mitigation of greenhouse gases also offers potential health benefits – by preventing adverse health effects that may have resulted from additional emissions. The challenge for policy-makers in Canadaand across the globe will be how to effectively realize these benefits when making decisions about technology and mitigation regimes.

Climate change brings a new set of challenges to health and environmental policy makers. These challenges will require unprecedented levels of knowledge mobilization and public policy innovation in order to manage health and environmental risks. The health-based events at Montreal 2005 are an important step in the global effort to protect human health from the effects of climate change.

For further information on the New Thinking Initiative:  www.newthinkinginitiative.com