Resource detail

Title: Protecting Health from Climate Change
Organization:World Health Organization
Year:2014

There is now strong evidence that the earth’s climate is changing rapidly, due mainly to human activities. Increasing temperatures, sea-level rises, changes in precipitation patterns and extreme events are expected to increase a range of health risks, from the direct effects of heatwaves, floods and storms, to more suitable conditions for the transmission of important infectious diseases, to impacts on the natural systems and socioeconomic sectors that ultimately underpin human health. In 2008, the 193 countries that constitute the World Health Assembly (WHA) passed a resolution committing countries to strengthen action to protect health from climate change; and in 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board endorsed a workplan that defined the specific ways in which WHO should support countries in achieving this aim. These mandates have been further adapted and refined through the regional governing bodies. A consistent request throughout all of these mechanisms is for WHO to support countries in planning and implementing adaptation. WHO has responded to this global demand by building on past guidance and technical tools to outline a flexible process for vulnerability and adaptation assessment. In 2009, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO prepared draft guidance for this process, which was pilot tested in studies across all WHO Regions. In July 2010, representatives of ministries of health from 15 countries came together in Costa Rica with WHO and subject area experts to share their experiences and provide feedback on how to improve the guidance for the conduct of vulnerability assessments.




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