Frightening report: More than 50 percent of deaths will be on this continent

WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas shared the report, “The State of Climate Services for Health 2023,” which was prepared under the coordination of WMO and with contributions from the World Health Organization (WHO) and many other international organizations.

The effects of climate change threaten to reverse years of progress toward improving health and well-being, especially in the most vulnerable communities, according to the report, which this year focused on health.

Extreme weather conditions and poor air quality increase the need for specific climate-related information and services to support the health sector in the face of infectious disease variables and food and water insecurity.

Climate change harms determinants of health and increases pressure on health systems. This threatens to undo decades of progress made in improving human health and well-being, especially in the most vulnerable communities.

560 medium- and large-scale natural disasters are expected to occur each year

According to the report, there are expected to be 560 medium- and large-scale natural disasters worldwide by 2030, which equates to an average of 1.5 events per day.

It is noted that early warning systems have a vital impact in preventing the negative effects of climate change, and in countries where this is not sufficient, death rates are 8 times higher than in other countries.

50% of deaths will be in Africa

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that health risks will increase in the future from extreme and frequent heat, hurricanes, storms, floods, droughts and wildfires, while more than 50 percent of excess deaths caused by climate change will decrease. It will be in Africa by 2050. This is expected to happen.

While air quality, climate change, and health concerns are interconnected, climate change mitigation actions that reduce air pollution can save lives.

In 2019, air pollution rose from fifth to fourth place in the ranking of the leading risk factors for death globally, while other widely recognized risk factors for chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and malnutrition increased their impact.

7 million premature deaths every year

Heatwaves cause an estimated 7 million premature deaths each year and increase air pollution.

While it is estimated that nearly 489,000 people died from extreme heat between 2000 and 2019, 45 percent of these deaths occurred in Asia and 36 percent in Europe.

It is estimated that extreme heat conditions in the summer of 2022 will cause the death of more than 60,000 people in 35 European countries.

“The climate crisis is a health crisis”

WMO Secretary-General Taalas said: “Almost the entire world has experienced heatwaves this year. The emergence of the El Niño climate phenomenon in 2023 will significantly increase the likelihood of further record temperatures.” “This will lead to further warming in Many parts of the world and in the oceans, exacerbating this problem,” he said.

Taalas touched on the importance of increasing investment and cooperation in combating climate change, and noted that there is great potential to move faster in this regard by increasing the impact of climate science and services.

An Anadolu Agency correspondent said: The effects of the global climate crisis are also being felt in Gaza. Abeer Batma, coordinator of the Palestinian Environmental Civil Organizations Network, said that the Israeli attacks will have serious environmental consequences in the long term. Gazans face difficulties in accessing water resources, especially due to attacks. “Do you think the Israeli attacks made the situation in Gaza worse?” In response to the question, Talas stated that the availability of water in this geography is limited and that it experiences high temperatures.

Noting that water-related difficulties and high temperatures in Gaza and Israel, especially in the summer months, make the situation more complex, Talas stated that this is a region that needs water diplomacy regarding the use of limited water resources.

Taalas also stated that desalination could be used to produce water for Gazans, but it is very expensive.

“The climate crisis is a health crisis that is leading to more extreme and unpredictable weather events, leading to disease outbreaks and contributing to a higher rate of non-communicable diseases,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whose views were included in the report. “. he said. (aa)

release date: 20:03, 2 November 2023