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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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| Reports & Publications |
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Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Agenda is a document that sets out to support existing efforts around the world to promote greater sustainability and environmental health in the health sector, and thereby to strengthen health systems globally.
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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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| Global: Climate and Health Summit a Success! |
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| by HCWH |
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HCWH and some of the world's most prominent health organizations,
including global doctors, nurses, medical students and public health
federations, the World Health Organization and others partnered to
organize the First Global Climate and Health Summit. The event, attended
by more than 200 people from over 40 countries, took place in Durban,
South Africa, parallel to the global climate treaty negotiations. The
conference concluded with the endorsing and issuing of a Declaration
and an urgent health sector Call to Action. Several health side events brought the Summit's message to the
negotiators and the world's media. more |
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| Global: Health in the Green Economy |
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| by WHO |
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Low-carbon transport measures can provide "win-win" options for developed and developing countries that benefit health as well as reducing climate change, suggests a new WHO report launched at COP17 in Durban, South Africa, 6 December. The report identifies some of the "win-win" strategies that can help reduce climate change in one of the world's most polluting sectors, and generate large health benefits at the same time. more |
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| Germany: Briefing Paper: Climate Change and Health – Time to Act |
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| by German Watch |
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Germanwatch, a German NGO has published a new briefing paper: Climate change and health – time to act. According to the briefing paper, climate change will result in grave consequences for the health of the world population. While industrialized countries have begun to protect themselves by starting adaptation programs developing countries have only limited resources to do so. They however - and especially least developed countries - will suffer most from climate change.
Because of the negative effects of climate change on health and the positive "side effects" of mitigation measures for human health the international discussion on climate change and the necessity for mitigation and adaptation needs to place much more emphasis on health issues. Health professionals and the health sector in general need to battle climate change - for health reasons as well as for the sustainability of human life. more |
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| South Africa: Public Health Benefits Can Combat Climate Change |
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| by Scientific American |
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Climate change threatens human health, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions may help our medical well-being, too. The WHO, environmental epidemiologists and other environmental and health professionals worry about how global warming is going to affect health. Already WHO research suggests that current warming of global average temperatures is responsible for an additional 150,000 deaths per year, largely due to agricultural failures and diarrheal disease in developing countries. Taking public health into account can help in different ways to mitigate climate change. more |
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| Global: Pollutants Key to Climate Fix |
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| by Nature |
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Rapid measures to reduce emissions of black carbon, which soaks up solar energy, and methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide, could cut the rate of global warming in half between now and 2050, according to an analysis. Such numbers have spurred political interest, and next month a small coalition of countries is aiming to launch an initiative that would target these short-lived climate forcers. If successful, the effort could have an immediate impact on global temperatures while countries grapple with efforts to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide, the most important greenhouse gas. more |
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| UK: Emissions Cuts Also Offer Quick Health and Crop Benefits |
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| by Sei International |
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Researchers at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) at the University of York (York) have played a key role in a new study that shows that implementing 14 key air pollution control measures could slow the pace of global warming, save millions of lives and boost agricultural production.
Scientists identified 14 emission control measures that, when applied together, could reduce global warming by around 0.5 degrees Celsius by 2050, avoid up to 4.7 million premature deaths, and boost crop yields by up to 135 million metric tonnes by 2030. The estimated benefits of cutting these emissions would far outstrip the costs of doing so, the authors said. more |
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| India: Threats to Health From Climate Change To Be Integrated in Policy Responses |
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| by India Times |
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Worried over the increasing threat of climate change on health, the state government has decided to integrate climate concerns into policy responses and interventions in the health sector.
It is expected that climate change may increase the risk of exposure to vector, water and food-borne diseases, aggravate malnutrition and increase mortality and morbidity associated with changes in intensity and frequency of extreme events. In this regard,
the medical, health and family welfare department has planned key strategies to deal with the risks of climate change on human health.
Moreover, the department would integrate the concerns on health impacts of climate change in the health policy followed by the state. more |
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| US: Flu Pandemic, Climate Pattern May Be Linked, Study Says |
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| by Hufftington Post |
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Shifting global climate pattern could portend a flu pandemic, and possibly an opportunity to stop the virus early, a study suggests.
The link, according to researchers, is weather's influence on the migratory patterns of wild birds, the primary pool for human flu.
Changes in flight patterns can bring together bird species that otherwise wouldn't intermingle.
And while mixing with feathered strangers, particularly on water, birds can share viruses orally and fecally. more |
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