Climate Change Poses Health Risks: World Health Organization
Posted on September 25, 2008
The World Health Organization warned Asia Pacific countries that they could be vulnerable to health risks and food shortages as a result of climate change.
Climate change is among the topics being discussed in a regional WHO conference being held in Manila, and governments are being pushed to put health issues in their national climate change mitigation plans, officials said.
Outgoing WHO regional director Shigeru Omi said that while they have been successful in dealing with controlling diseases, focus should shift to addressing “global health security” arising from global warming.
“A warmer planet has contributed to some diseases, such as dengue, now occurring in areas where it was never seen before,” Omi said in a statement.
“Heat waves and droughts are among the many factors contributing to the current food crisis,” he added. “Rising oceans could soon threaten our low-lying island states and areas in the Pacific.”
» Filed Under Climate, enviromental Problem, environmental issue
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