The World Meteorological Organisation report on climate services this year focusses on health. It argues the need for tailored climate information and services to support the health sector in the face of more extreme weather and poor air quality, shifting infectious disease patterns and food and water insecurity.
If climate information is not used by the health sector for adaptation, population health can easily move backwards.
“Practically the whole planet has experienced heatwaves this year. The onset of El Niño in 2023 will greatly increase the likelihood of breaking temperature records further, triggering more extreme heat in many parts of the world and in the ocean – and making the challenge even greater,” says WMO Secretary-General, Prof. Petteri Taalas.
“It is clear that by channelling investment and boosting collaboration, there is huge potential to go further and faster by enhancing the impact of climate science and services so that health partners get the support they need at a time when unprecedented changes to our climate are having an increasing impact,” says Prof. Taalas.
The report shows that integrated climate and health action makes a very real difference in people’s daily life. This includes early warning systems for extreme heat, pollen monitoring to help allergy sufferers and satellite surveillance for climate-sensitive diseases.
While Nearly three quarters of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) provide climate data to the health sector, the uptake is limited. Less than one quarter of Ministries of Health have a health surveillance system that utilizes meteorological information to monitor climate-sensitive health risks.
In answer to a press conference question, Dr Maria Neira, Director Department, of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO says:
"In medicine we use something: first do no harm. So in terms of cost my first reaction would be: if we stop it today, or even tomorrow giving the subsidies to fossil fuels. All the costs to recover to respond to the health needs, the systems needs will already be there. Because one of the costs is what we are paying already. The health services are already treating chronic diseases that are the consequences to exposure to air pollution, which is a consequence of fossil fuels.
"That cost is never incorporated in all the considerations when the negotiations are taking place. So, first Do no harm. Stop giving subsidies to Fossil fuels would be a big big help.
"Second, as mentioned already the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) they give a strong importance to health, they prioritise health. But when you look - in WHO we did an estimation of funds going from climate and environment to health - is less than 0.5 percent. Its true we prioritise, and we all recognise that health will be critical, but only 0.5 percent of resources are going to health. So we definitely need to increase that dramatically for adaptation.
"We need to prepare our systems to cope with the consequences and make sure that we are climate resilient and fit for the 21st century. We need to ensure we don't invest in something that is killing us, those fossil fuels. So, as we accelerate the transition to the green sources of energy, it will be a health investment as well. A critical one. It will help us reduce the 7 million premature deaths we have each year caused by air pollution....the cost is huge for health."
In August 2023 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that Fossil Fuel Subsidies Surged to Record $7 Trillion. Subsidies for oil, coal and natural gas are costing the equivalent of 7.1 percent of global gross domestic product. IMF says fossil-fuel subsidies rose by $2 trillion over the past two years as explicit subsidies more than doubled to $1.3 trillion. (IMF)
In May 2023 the Australia Institute identified Australian fossil fuel subsidies over the forward estimates have increased to a record breaking $57.1b, up from the $55.3b forecast in 2022. Fossil fuel subsidies cost $11.1 billion in 2022-23 across all state, territory and federal governments, equivalent to $21,143 per minute. It includes $1.5 billion of Commonwealth moneyfor Darwin Middlearm hub for fracked gas in the Beetaloo Basin in the NT. (Australia Institute)Early warning systeme are important.
- The number of medium- or large-scale disaster events is projected to reach 560 a year – or 1.5 each day – by 2030. Countries with limited early warning coverage have disaster mortality that is eight times higher than countries with substantial to comprehensive coverage.
- Heat-related mortality could be 30 times higher than what is currently recorded.
- Heat warning services are provided to health decision makers in only half of the affected countries, but are expected to rapidly increase by 2027 under the international Early Warnings for All initiative.
- Between 2000 and 2019, estimated deaths due to heat were approximately 489,000 per year, with a particularly high burden in Asia (45%) and Europe (36%). Extreme heat conditions during the summer of 2022, were estimated to have claimed over 60,000 excess deaths in 35 European countries.
- Heatwaves also exacerbate air pollution, which is already responsible for an estimated 7 million premature deaths every year and is the fourth biggest killer by health risk factor.
- Climate change is exacerbating risks of food insecurity. In 2012-2021, 29% more global land area was affected by extreme drought for at least one month per year than in 1951–1960. The compounding impacts of droughts and heatwave days were associated with 98 million additional people reporting moderate to severe food insecurity in 2020 than annually in 1981–2010, in 103 countries analysed
- Changing climatic conditions are also enhancing the transmission of many climatically sensitive infectious vector-, food-, and water-borne diseases. This includes increased threat from Dengue Fever and spread of Malaria.
Observed climate change impacts on health included:
- 98 million more people with moderate to severe food insecurity in 2020 than in previous 30 years
- Climate suitability of dengue transmission rose by 12% from 1951–1960 to 2012–2021
- Climate suitability of malaria transmission increased in the highlands in the Americas and in Africa, by 31.3% and 13.8% between 1951–1960 to 2012–2021
- 7 million deaths globally in 2020 due to air pollution
- 470 billion potential labour hours lost globally in 2021 due to heatwaves - a 37% increase from 1990–1999 USD669 billion potential loss on income in 2021
- Elderly and children were exposed to 3.2 more days of extreme heat per person in 2021 than annually in previous 25 years
- Heat-related deaths increased by 68% in 2017–2021 as compared to 2000–2004
A particular focus of the report is the impact of extreme heat.
"Globally, the impact of extreme heat and heatwaves is heavily underestimated, with mortality potentially 30 times higher than previously suggested. Between 2000 and 2019, estimated deaths due to heat were approximately 489 000 per year, with a particularly high burden in Asia (45%) and Europe (36%)."
"Heatwaves are among the most dangerous of natural hazards, but rarely receive adequate attention because heat attributable deaths and damages are not always immediately obvious. This is because registering of heat hazards is inconsistent, chronic heat exposure is deadly, official government heat impact monitoring and health surveillance systems are nascent, and even where available, data are often analysed, validated and reported on months after a heat season. These factors result in the immediate impacts of heat on human health being underappreciated and the perception of heat risks understated. "
"Air quality, the fourth biggest killer by health risk factor, is closely interlinked with climate. Despite this, only 2% of climate finance commitments made by international development funders in developing and emerging countries explicitly aimed to tackle outdoor air pollution (in 2015–2021)."
"Actions and policies to improve air quality offer a win-win strategy for both climate and health, reducing the burden on health-care systems while contributing to the mitigation of climate change.
"For example, phasing out fossil fuels can reduce the health risks associated with small particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) derived from fossil fuel combustion, which in 2020 was responsible for 1.2 million deaths.81 Transitioning to clean public transport and active travel modes can help reduce road travel-derived air pollution (responsible for 497 000 deaths in 2020), and lead to increased physical activity and reduced burden of non-communicable disease.
"Sustainable, efficient and low-carbon food systems can reduce agricultural emissions, which contribute to about one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, 55% of which come from red meat and milk production.
Key Messages on Climate Services and Health
from the State of Climate 2023 Health report releaseed by the World Metoerological Organisation (WMO)
The world is warming at a faster rate than at any point in recorded history. Climate change undermines health determinants and increases pressures on health systems, thereby threatening to reverse decades of progress to promote human health and well-being, particularly in the most vulnerable communities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes, with very high confidence, that future health risks of injury, disease and death will increase due to more intense and frequent temperature extremes, cyclones, storms, floods, droughts and wildfires. It is anticipated that over 50% of the excess mortality resulting from climate change by the year 2050 will occur in Africa.
Health protection is a priority in almost all countries and requires high-quality information to better inform decisionmaking. The majority of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) prioritize the health sector. To systematically and effectively address the challenges presented by climate variability and change, the health sector needs to ensure that climate information and services inform national assessments and policies.
Climate information and services are fundamental for better understanding how and when health systems and population health can be impacted by climate extremes and a changing climate, and for managing climate-related risks. Tailored climate products and services can enhance the evidence and information available to health sector partners to detect, monitor, predict and manage climate-related health risks. Examples of where health sector partners are successfully using climate information and services are illustrated in the Case studies.
There is huge potential for enhancing the benefits of climate science and climate services for health. Despite examples of success, data shows that the health sector is underutilizing available climate knowledge and tools. At the same time, climate services need to be further enhanced to fully satisfy the health sector requirements. While 74% of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) provide climate data to health actors, the uptake into mainstreamed health decision tools is limited, with just 23% of Ministries of Health having a health surveillance system that utilizes meteorological information to monitor climate-sensitive health risks. Data from WMO shows that only 31% of NMHSs provide climate services at a “full” or “advanced” level of capacity, where co-production and tailoring most often happen.
This reflects a significant capacity gap to be filled in order to increase the role that NMHSs can play in supporting the health sector.
Extreme heat causes the greatest mortality of all extreme weather, yet heat warning services are provided to health decision makers in only half of the affected countries. Extreme heat services are expected to rapidly increase by 2027 under the United Nations Early Warnings for All initiative. The impacts of extreme heat and heatwaves are underestimated, as heat-related mortality could be 30 times higher than current estimates. Between 2000 and 2019, estimated deaths due to heat were approximately 489 000 per year, with a particularly high burden in Asia (45%) and Europe (36%).5
Every year poor air quality is responsible for millions of premature deaths and is the fourth biggest killer by health risk factor. Concerns relating to air quality, climate change and health are interlinked. Climate mitigation action leading to reducing air pollution can save lives. Despite this, only 2% of climate finance commitments made by international development funders in developing and emerging countries is explicitly aimed at tackling air pollution (in 2015–2021).6
There is insufficient investment to improve the capabilities of the health sector and related climate services to deploy research and integrated systems for effective climate adaptation and mitigation related decision-making. This leaves the health sector ill-prepared to safeguard the most vulnerable. Currently, just 0.2% of total bilateral and multilateral adaptation finance supports projects that identify health as the primary focus. There is insufficient investment for developing human resource and operational capacities and the systems needed to provide decision support for local adaptation and mitigation.7
To fully harness the potential of climate services for health, transformational change in institutional development and integration across the health and climate sectors are needed.
The report includes nineteen important cases studies, including:.
Forecasting high pollen in Europe: A staggering 40% of Europeans are currently battling allergies, and the severity of seasonal allergies is intensifying, particularly when for older patients or those with respiratory comorbidities like asthma. Real-time observations of aeroallergens in a mobile app are revolutionizing the information available to users, improving the health of millions of European allergy patients. Here in Australia we have the Pollen Count and early warning surveillance in Victoria of Thunderstorm asthma conditions.
Early warning systems in Fiji: early warning systems have helped people in Fiji better prepare and respond to climatic changes, reducing morbidity and mortality from climate sensitive diseases, and to tropical cyclones.
Argentina Extreme heat early warning system: allowed Argentina's Ministry of Health to make the threat of heatwaves visible to the public, thereby reducing exposure. Here in Australia we have had early warning heat alerts and heatwave warning as early as 2009.
Carribean awareness raising in a quarterly bulletin: In 2017, the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) partnered with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to coproduce a freely available quarterly Health Climatic Bulletin (HCB) for the Caribbean.
Athens, Greece: promoting citizen awareness and preparedness for heatwaves using a mobile app. EXTREMA Global utilizes data from various sources to creates user-friendly maps, guiding users to safe routes for walking and cycling, considering the density of trees along the way, plus cool spaces, public water fountains. All of the information is dynamic and managed by a dashboard, so any change is immediately visible.
References:
WMO media release, 2 November 2023, Climate change is bad for health but climate services save lives https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/climate-change-bad-health-climate-services-save-lives
WMO and WHO - Press conference: State of Climate Services for Health report, 2 November 2023, UN WebTV, https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1a/k1aj1ranhl
No comments:
Post a Comment