New report says climate change has a negative impact on human health

Climate change can gradually affect human health, which requires rapid and determined action to stabilize it, reports a consortium of 27 leading scientific academies in Europe.

In its new report, the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Academies (EASAC) points out that climate change is global and is mainly due to the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by the activity. human, leading to greater warming of the soil. oceans.

EASAC presents strong evidence of the increasing and diversified risk of increasing global temperature for people's health and lives. They estimate that by the end of the century, global temperatures will be 3 ° C higher than those before the industrial revolution.

This warming could make us lose a lot of progress in public health over the past two centuries. Health systems may also be unable to cope with the growing demand.

Immediate, determined and effective action is needed to keep the rise below 2 ° C. This should prevent a significant deterioration in health status and also produce great economic benefits.

To achieve this, we must recognize that climate change, regardless of where in the world, affects human health globally. Conversely, responsible EU action to combat climate change will fully benefit the human race, both today and for future generations.

Sustainable solutions have been presented to mitigate climate change, but the main obstacle is the lack of political will to act.

How does climate change affect health?

EASAC identifies the direct and indirect impacts of global climate change on human health, including environmental disasters such as forest fires, drought, famine and floods; loss of food security; increased burden of disease (infectious or otherwise); and injuries caused by heat.

The main dangers of such climate change will include:

• Direct effects of heat exposure and natural disasters, as well as increased release of allergens and air pollutants
• Decline in food production in certain regions of Europe and its food trading partners
• Models of infectious diseases increasing and evolving
• Increased forced migration as agriculture becomes unsustainable

What are the main priorities?

Among the important areas covered in the report are:

Zero carbon saving by 2050

Decarbonisation could avoid at least 350 000 preventable deaths per year within the EU, due to the burning of fossil fuels. This represents more than half of the excess mortality due to air pollution. More than seven million babies in Europe are also likely to have cognitive impairment due to air pollution.

Air pollutants and GHG emissions often come from the same sources. The fight against air pollution therefore reduces climate change, protects the environment and promotes health.

Healthier diets

Switching to herbal diets containing less red meat has many advantages:

• Reduces GHG emissions from the food system by 40%
• Less land and water needed for human nutrition
• Lower incidence of noncommunicable diseases such as stroke and heart disease
• Promotes resilient farming systems
• Increases food security

Importing food for the EU from outside could encourage deforestation elsewhere, for example to get more land on which to raise fodder for livestock. Guidelines for "climate-smart" food systems and healthy diets are urgently needed and need to be widely and convincingly disseminated.

Infectious diseases

Increasing temperatures worldwide could increase the burden of infectious diseases in both humans and animals in Europe. The incidence and area of ​​distribution are likely to increase. For example, with a greater availability of geographical areas corresponding to its preferred environmental conditions, the mosquito vector Aedes albopictus who carries the dengue virus is expanding in Europe.

Excessive rainfall and flooding may result in increased waterborne diarrhea and norovirus infections.

Warmer temperatures could favor the proliferation of foodborne bacteria such as Salmonella, with increased risks of food poisoning, as well as promoting the emergence of E. coli strains. Coli resistant to antibiotics. Escherichia coli).

Evidence of an urgent change

The negative effects of climate change on human health have so far been marginalized in the EU's environmental policy, focused on reducing GHG emissions and preparing for global warming.

The EU needs to integrate an badessment of the health effects of any climate change initiative into its policy, whether national or international.

Damage caused by misinformation about the causes and effects of climate change needs to be successfully addressed. It is important for scientists to gather credible evidence to drive change and make this information public. This is essential to guarantee the weight of the generalized public sanctions behind the decisive move towards a low-carbon economy.