Climate Change and Health | Niall Roche

Climate change is the biggest global threat to health in the 21
st century and the defining challenge of this century. The effects are already being felt with global temperatures already 1°C above average. We know that green-house gas (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) levels significantly exceed levels in pre-industrial times and it is human activity that is responsible. Not only do the GHGs contribute to rising temperatures but this in turn contributes to rising sea levels, ocean acidification and the melting of ice caps.
The negative effects on human health are broadly divided into direct and indirect effects. The direct effects include the impact of heatwaves on mortality especially among the elderly and the direct role played by poor air quality, caused by the generation of green-house gases on respiratory health. The
largest effect of climate change on health is indirect, for example, through the impact on food security and nutrition plus the rise in infectious diseases such dengue fever and diarrheal diseases.
In 2015 the world agreed in Paris at COP 21 to limit temperature increase to 2°C and aim for 1.5°C, to generate finance to helping developing nations adapt to climate change and help them mitigate their own GHG emissions. Almost all nations agreed to reduce GHG emissions to such a level that global warming can be limited and by 2050 aim for zero emissions.
While political action continues on from Paris at various climate change negotiations we also need to realize that there are tremendous opportunities for health co-benefits from the response to climate change. Much of the benefit arises from improving air quality in the household environment and the ambient environment through pollution reducing measures in the way we cook our food, heat our homes, travel and produce energy. We also have opportunities around food production and consumption particularly in relation to addressing the biggest killers on the planet, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers associated with over-nutrition and high fat diets. In
short we need to recognize that what is good for climate is good for health and we all have a duty and responsibility to adhere to
SDG 13 and take urgent action to combat climate change and its (health) impacts.