climate change and global health
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Climate Change and Global Health
Øjvind LidegaardProfessor
Dept. Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Rigshospitalet
University of Copenhagen
United NationsFramework Convention on
Climate Change
Aim is to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions…
“…at a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference
with the climate system.”
Climate change and global health
Four steps
• Realize how profound the anthropogenic climate changes are
• Understand the impact of these changes on global health
• Take advantage of the different roles we have as health professionals
• Act
Earth development 4,600 My
My before present
4600
3500
3000 First life
2500
2000
1500
1000
500 Life on land
0
IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis
Earth development 4,600 My
My before present
4600 400 trees
3500 350 fish
3000 First life 300 first ice
2500 250 reptiles
2000 200 dinosaurs
1500 150 mammals
1000 100 flowers
500 Life on land 50 ice again
0 0
Dee
p o
cean
dri
lls
IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis
Earth development 4,600 My My 1000 years .
4600 400 trees
3500 350 fish 700
3000 First life 300 first ice 600
2500 250 reptiles 500 Homo erectus
2000 200 dinosaurs 400
1500 150 mammals 300
1000 100 flowers 200
500 Life on land 50 ice again 100 Homo sapiens
0 0 0
Dee
p o
cean
dri
lls
IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science BasisIc
e co
res
CO2 in atmosphere through last 400 My
1000
500
1000
3000
23002000
600270
3000
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0
ppm
www.stratigraphy.org
Icepresent
My
Din
osau
rs
Rep
tiles
Flo
wer
sM
amm
als
Fis
h
Tre
es
Ext
inct
ion
even
t
Mesozoic CenozoicPaleozoicEra
Eon P h a n e r o z o i c
Icepresent
CO2 in atmosphere through last 50 My
600 575525
485425 415 410 405 380 400
250
0
200
400
600
800
1000
50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
ppm
IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis
My
Development in mammals
Paleogene period (65-23 My BP) Neogene (23 My - now)
C E N O Z O I C E R A Kænozoikum
Antarctic glaciation
Ice free worldSea level 80 mabove present
Paleogene (35 My BP)
CO2 in atmosphere through last 50 My
600 575525
485425 415 410 405 380 400
250
0
200
400
600
800
1000
50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
ppm
IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis
My
Development in mammals
Paleogene period (65-23 My BP) Neogene (23 My - now)
C E N O Z O I C E R A Kænozoikum
Antarctic glaciation
Ice free worldSea level 80 mabove present
CO2 in atmosphere through last 5 My
390
350
310275
240
100
200
300
400
500
5 4 3 2 1 0
ppm
IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis
My
Pliocene epoch (5.4-1.8 My BP) Pleistocene (1.8-0.01)
N E O G E N E P E R I O D
Last time CO2 was at the same high as today.
At that time sea level was 20-30 m above present level, and Tp. was 3.5oC higher
Pliocene (4 My BP)
CO2 in atmosphere through last 5 My
390
350
310275
240
100
200
300
400
500
5 4 3 2 1 0
ppm
IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis
My
Pliocene epoch (5.4-1.8 My BP) Pleistocene (1.8-0.01)
N E O G E N E P E R I O D
Last time CO2 was at the same high as today.
At that time sea level was 20-30 m above present level, and Tp. was 3.5oC higher
5oC
CO2 and temperature through last 640,000 years
Holocene
Holocene
Holocene
CO2 and sea level at equilibrium
385385
485
285
385
285
185
025?
0
-100
0
80
25
100
200
300
400
500
35,000 3,500 110 20 0.1 Now-100
-75
-50
-25
0
25
50
75
100
CO2 ppmSea level
CO2 ppm Sea level m
Antarcticglaciation
Last timeCO2 was385 ppm
Interglacialperiod
Lastglacialperiod
Pliocene
Pleistocene
Paleogene
Thousand years before present At
equilibrium
Stabilisation of CO2
Holocene
Pre in-dustrialperiod
Climate and health
Health threads by climate changes are primarily a consequence of
• Damages after hurricanes and cyclones
• Homelessness for millions after floods
• Climate refugees, unsustainable migration
• Disintegration of civil infrastructures
• Shortage of drinking water
• Starvation
• Expanding areas of vector-borne diseases
Climate and healthClimate change Health consequence
Temperature rise Tainted food, infections
Sea level rise, flood Injuries, infections homelessness mental disorders,
cholera
More rainfall, flood do
Less rainfall, Drought, reduced agrarian yield, starvation
Changed ocean Depletion of fish stocksstreams New fish stocks
McMichael et al. Lancet 2006; 367: 859-69
Commitment of health professionals
Health professionals have three roles
• They are members of strong professional international networks such as WMA.
• They are professional health managers
• They are citizens as all other citizens
What can and what should we expect from health professionals in their three roles?
Commitment of health professionals
Professional networks
• Information about short- and long term health impact of climate change
• Stressing that climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century
• Require immediate mitigation initiatives
• Initiate research in health consequences of climate change
Costello et al. Lancet 2009; 373: 1693-1733
Commitment of health professionals
Health advisors• Information about short- and long term
health impact of climate change• Focusing on initiatives which improve
public health and global climate at the same time (less use of fossil fuel, diet changes, physical activity)
• Disclose personal views on climate change
Costello et al. Lancet 2009; 373: 1693-1733
Commitment of health professionals
Health advisors (cont)• Stress the urgency of political and personal
actions• Professional initiatives of establishing
national networks on climate change and health
• Adapt your institutions to low-energy buildings
• Video conferences
Costello et al. Lancet 2009; 373: 1693-1733
Commitment of health professionals
As member of the general society
• Limiting long distance flights
• Reduce private fossil fuel consumption
• Reduce energy consumption (50%)
• Combine physical activity with personal transportation (e.g. bicycle transportation)
• Learn your children to behave responsible
• Involvement in local initiatives
Costello et al. Lancet 2009; 373: 1693-1733
Which CO2 future?
285 ppmHolocene
385 ppmPliocene
485 ppmPaleogene
Thank you
www.Lidegaard.dk / slides
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