The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified climate change as the foremost emerging health challenge of the 21st century. It calls for investments in robust healthcare systems that can effectively withstand the impacts of climate change.
Extreme weather events, both non-communicable and infectious diseases, along with disruptions to health infrastructure and workforce capacity, are all experiencing significant effects that endanger essential elements of good health, such as clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food, and secure shelter.
The WHO expresses concern that global warming has the potential to reverse decades of progress in global health. It predicts that between 2030 and 2050, climate variations could lead to around 250,000 additional deaths annually, primarily from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat-related stress.
Furthermore, the direct health-related costs of climate damage are estimated to range between $2 billion and $4 billion per year by 2030. Regions with weaker healthcare infrastructures, mainly in developing nations, will struggle the most without assistance to prepare and respond.
The WHO emphasizes that greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil fuel extraction and combustion are major contributors to both climate change and air pollution. Numerous policies and individual choices in areas like transportation, food consumption, and energy use have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in significant health benefits by reducing air pollution.
Promoting public transportation and active modes of movement can lower carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of household and ambient air pollution, which contribute to 7 million premature deaths annually, according to the WHO.
Dr. Vanessa Kerry, the newly appointed WHO Director-General and Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health, underscores the urgent need to address the climate crisis as a health crisis. She stresses the importance of investing in resilient health systems to counter these impacts.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, highlights 2023 as a critical year for addressing the intersection of climate change and health, with the upcoming COP28 Presidency focusing on health. He emphasizes collaboration and coordinated efforts to ensure a sustainable and resilient future.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls for immediate and radical action to achieve global carbon neutrality by 2040, expressing concern over the Earth’s escalating temperatures. He warns of the earth moving into an era of global boiling, and emphasizes the need for leaders to take decisive action.
A joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development, United Nations Children’s Fund, World Food Programme, and WHO reveals that over 122 million people are currently facing hunger worldwide due to weather shocks, conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of people experiencing hunger has risen from 690 million in 2021 to 783 million in 2022, indicating worsening food crises in certain regions.
In Nigeria, over 4.3 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are affected by severe hunger and malnutrition. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, highlights the dire situation and the urgent need for assistance in the face of conflict and intensifying climate change.
