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Vulnerability to heat is unacceptable and growing worldwide. Outdoor workers, already sick and elderly in urban areas, are particularly vulnerable. This is stated in an international report of the research project The Lancet countdown on health and climate change as published in The Lancet.
Some of the effects of high heat on health, described in 2018 Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change shows that rising temperatures due to climate change already expose humanity today to unacceptable risks to health. The researchers therefore warn for the first time that older people in Europe and in the Eastern Mediterranean region are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat waves, significantly higher than in Africa and Southeast Asia.
"What we are seeing is that health care from an international perspective is already subject to high pressures due to high temperatures and in particular pressure on Europe. it means that heat waves can affect the entire health system, "said Maria Nilsson, associate professor at the University's Unit of Epidemiology and Global Health. Umeå, one of the report's co-authors.
Behind the report are doctors, scientists and politicians from 27 organizations around the world, such as the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), University College London, United Kingdom, Tsinghua University in China and Umeå University.
Some of the effects of high heat on health described in the report are:
- An additional 157 million people in at-risk groups were exposed to the heat wave last year compared to 2000 and 18 million more compared to 2016.
- 153 billion hours of work should have been lost in 2017 because of the extreme heat caused by climate change. China, for example, has lost 21 billion hours of work, equivalent to an annual labor force of 1.4% of the labor force. India has lost 75 billion hours worked, accounting for 7% of its total labor force. Thanks to new methods, this is the first time that these calculations are done.
- The increase in ambient temperatures exposes vulnerable groups of the population to increased risks around the world. Europe and the eastern Mediterranean are particularly vulnerable, mainly because of the aging of the population living in the cities, with 42% and 43% of the population over 65 years old being vulnerable to heat. This figure is significantly higher than in Africa (38%) and South East Asia (34%).
- The heat greatly exacerbates air pollution in the cities. 97% of cities in low- and middle-income countries do not comply with the World Health Organization guidelines on air quality.
- Heat stress, an early and severe effect of climate change, is commonplace and health systems are ill-equipped to deal with the problem.
- Increased temperatures and abnormal heat during the season are one of the root causes of the proliferation of cholera and dengue in many endemic areas.
- The average increase in the temperature at which humans are exposed is more than twice the global average, with temperatures increasing 0.8 ° C compared to 0.3 ° C.
Comments and additional information from the international press release:
Professor Hugh Montgomery, member of the Lancet Countdown Leadership Team on Health and Climate Change and Director of the Institute of Human Health and Performance at University College London , sees the major risks related to development.
– Exposure and vulnerability to extreme heat are unacceptable and are steadily increasing for people around the world. Heat stress is striking – especially for the elderly urban population and for people with health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Working outdoors at high temperatures, especially in agriculture, is associated with risk of death. Regions such as the north of England, California in the United States and Australia have been affected by forest fires that have resulted in the loss of life, the abandonment of their homes and the risk of breathing difficulties after the injection of harmful smoke, he said.
The report, which examined 41 distinct indicators on a variety of themes, allows researchers to show that urgent action is needed to protect people from the effects of climate change. This applies in particular to stricter labor laws that protect workers from extreme heat. In addition, our hospitals and health systems need to be better equipped to cope with extreme heat.
Kris Ebi, professor of global health sciences and environment and labor at the University of Washington, proposes to act.
– The increase in mortality due to extreme heat waves has nothing to do with "maybe" that will strike us, but it affects us and will continue to do so as global temperatures continue to rise. # 39; increase. It is clear that companies are not prepared to increase the frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves. Investment related measures are currently required. This may involve installing early warning systems for heat waves, mapping population risk groups, and finding solutions that make society more heat-resistant, she said.
The year 2018 was a record year in many parts of the world and the World Weather Attribution Study Study for Northern Europe showed that it was twice as likely as the wave of summer heat was caused by the impact of man on the planet.
While climate change is expected to seriously affect the public health infrastructure in 51% of the cities studied in the report, it is clear that we must ensure that health care systems, hospitals and health facilities can cope with extreme heat waves. Climate change risk assessments have already been completed or undertaken in 65% of cities, but investments in climate adjustments for health purposes are estimated at only 4.8% of all adjustments (equivalent). GBP 11.68 billion or SEK 135.5 billion). . This is completely inadequate, warn the researchers in the report.
According to Anthony Costello, professor, pediatrician, Lancet Countdown management team and earlier at the post of the World Health Organization, we must act as quickly as possible.
"The world must still reduce emissions effectively The pace of climate change is threatening our lives and those of our children If we continue on the road, we will consume the carbon budget necessary to keep global warming below two degrees before 2032. Health effects resulting from climate change exceeding these levels are threatening to completely eliminate our health care and emergency care.
The report is also the first to show that deaths from air pollution can be linked to a specific source and that coal accounts for 16% of all deaths worldwide. A new indicator of extreme precipitation indicates that South America and Southeast Asia are the most exposed to floods and drought. In terms of food supply, the report states that 30 countries have experienced a downward trend in crop yield, which means that an upward trend in the last decade worldwide has now complete utility. Agricultural yields are expected to decline in all regions as extreme weather conditions become more common and extreme.
For more information on the report, please contact:
Maria Nilsson, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Unit of Epidemiology and Global Health, University of Umeå
Telephone: 070-349 71 74
E-mail: [email protected]
Read the report in The Lancet
Learn more about Lancet Countdown
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