Key Facts From WHO on Climate Change
The facts are as follows:
- Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity.
- Meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement could save about a million lives a year worldwide by 2050 through reductions in air pollution alone.
- Avoiding the worst climate impacts could help prevent 250,000 additional climate-related deaths per year from 2030 to 2050, mainly from Malnutrition, Malaria, Diarrhoea and Heat Stress.
- The value of health gains from reducing carbon emissions would be approximately double the global cost of implementing carbon mitigation measures.
- Over 90 per cent of people breathe unhealthy levels of air pollution, largely resulting from burning fossil fuels driving climate change. In 2018, air pollution from fossil fuels caused $2.9 trillion in health and economic costs, about $8 billion a day.
- Transportation produces around 20 per cent of global carbon emissions. Alternatives like walking and cycling are not only green but also offer major health benefits, such as reducing the risk of many chronic health conditions and improving mental health.
Impact of Climate Change on Health
Climate Change has a significant and wide range of impacts on human health, affecting both physical and mental well-being. It can have several negative effects on human health including water and food-related illnesses, respiratory and heart diseases, poor mental health, injuries and even death. Climate change can also lead to increased frequency of extreme weather events like flooding and extreme heat, increased food and water scarcity, and economic loss that often leads to human migration and conflict.
In this article, we will study climate change, its impact on health, the COP28 UAE declaration on climate and health, the Indian Government initiative and some mitigating measures.
Table of Content
- Impact of Climate Change on Health
- COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health
- Indian Government Initiatives
- Key Facts from WHO
- Some Ways to Mitigate the Health Impacts of Climate Change