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| The Health Sector on the Front Lines |
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In the age of climate change, the health sector finds itself on the front lines, confronting and adapting to a changing landscape and shifting burden of disease. By working to reduce carbon pollution in the atmosphere, while developing forward looking adaptation strategies, we can protect human health, saving lives and money. Indeed, the health sector can play a leadership role in developing and modeling climate solutions for the rest of society. |
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| Be Informed |
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The HCWH Climate and Health News Service is a brand-new free service that aims to keep you – health professionals, climate experts and decision makers – informed on the latest developments, trends, resources and events around the world.
If you're not already a subscriber, you can sign-up for free subscribe
If you don't want to receive this service, you can unsubscribe here.
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| Reports & Publications |
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WHO-HCWH Climate Report: Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Addressing Climate Change in Health Care Settings (pdf)
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Managing the Health Effects of Climate Change: Lancet and University College London Institute for Global Health Commission (pdf) | |
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| Notice: The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Health Care Without Harm concerning the legal, social, economic status of any country, territory, city of area or of its authorities. The published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. Online articles and links might expire days after their release date. |
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| Africa: Health Ministers Call for Strategy to Tackle Health Care Costs of Climate Change |
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| by Afriquejet |
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African health ministers called for a climate change strategy to tackle the rising medical costs associated with malaria and an increase in infant deaths as a result of other environmentally-inflicted diseases. The ministers met in Windhoek, the Namibian capital, where they said the cost of climate change was more severe than previously thought. The rising frequency of extreme climate events – mainly flooding and landslides – renders African countries vulnerable to increasing disease prevalence of and high death rates from infectious diseases that decrease economic productivity while exerting pressure on the already shaky health care systems. The ministers said it was therefore essential for the formulation of clear response to the climate changes in order to protect human health and ensure that it is placed at the centre of the climate debate. more |
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| US: Health Information Technology Can Create Environmental and Health Benefits Reducing Carbon Emissions |
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| by San Francisco Gate |
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A study conducted by the health system Kaiser Permanente, published in the May issue of Health Affairs estimates that use of electronic health records, if universally adopted in the United States, could reduce carbon emissions by 1.7 million tons. The analysis also illustrates how health care providers have a dual role to play as climate change ramps up: not only will they have to tend to those who get sick as a result, but they can — and should — also make their own work more sustainable so they don't inadvertently exacerbate the causes of their patients' illnesses. more |
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| Asia: Climate Change Impacts on Water, Food and Health |
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| by Asia Development Bank |
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The seminar "Climate Risk and Resilience: Securing the Region's Future", carried out in Vietnam, examined the threats posed by climate change to water and food security in Asia and explored strategies to manage those threats. According to a participant panel of experts, climate change will create unprecedented challenges in the Asia-Pacific region in coming years, exacerbating weather related disasters. more |
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| Canada: Conference Focuses on How Climate Change Affects Aging Population |
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| by Straight.com |
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With climate change converging with aging populations in many countries, there is an urgent need to understand how global warming will affect this vulnerable sector of society. In this regard, the upcoming Conference "Growing Old in a Changing Climate: Exploring the Interface Between Population Aging and Global Warming" will take place in Vancouver, Canada on May 25, 2011. It will focus on how the changing climate will affect the health of seniors and the impending challenges related to this. more |
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| US: Climate Change Analysis Predicts Increased Deaths From Heat Waves |
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| by Johns Hopkins University |
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Global climate change is anticipated to bring more extreme weather phenomena such as heat waves that could impact human health in the coming decades. According to new research conducted by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the number of deaths attributed to heatwaves in cities like Chicago in the US, is likely to increase as a result of the intensification of global warming. more |
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