WHO Urges Countries to Protect Health from Effects of Climate Change

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The World Health Organization urged countries to take strong actions in protecting people's health from the negative effects of climate change. A climate change meeting called The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-21) will be held in Paris from Nov. 30 through Dec. 11 in order to reach a global climate agreement, according to a report by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Report (CIDRAP).

"The upcoming United Nations climate change conference (COP21) in Paris offers the world an important opportunity to not only reach a strong international climate agreement, but also to protect the health of current and future generations," stated by WHO in a press release.

WHO stressed that the negative effects of climate change are causing thousands of deaths annually. These deaths are being attributed by the UN News Centre to multiple reasons, such as the shifts in disease patterns, floods, heat waves, degradation of air quality, and threats to food and water supplies and sanitation.

According to WHO, 7 million individuals died from causes related to air pollution in 2012, making it the biggest single environmental health risk in the world. The agency predicts that the effects of climate change will cause an additional 25,000 deaths a year from diarrhea, heat stress, under-nutrition, and malaria between 2013 and 2015. WHO added that this will mostly affect children, women, and people in developing countries.

CIDRAP states that Jeremy Farrar, the director of Wellcome Trust, expressed concerns that international climate change discussions are not giving adequate attention to the negative health effects brought about by climate change. Farrar said that people in general do not consider the health impacts of climate change. He fears that climate change factors might widen the spread of dengue fever.

WHO said that they can produce important health benefits with its new country profiles that illustrate investments in low-carbon development, clean renewable energy, and strengthening climate resilience.

Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, and Tanzania are the first twelve countries covered by WHO's country profiles. More country profiles will be launched in December and the beginning of 2016, said WHO.

Steps in strengthening resilience to climate risks are also necessary, according to WHO. This includes early-warning systems for more frequent and severe heatwaves, and strategies to protect water, sanitation, and hygiene in times of floods and droughts.

Several countries have already made commitments to WHO to cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase steps against climate change. However, greater action needs to be done.