Can global health weather global climate?

• Position: UN Secretary General G.O.P. Obassi's speech - Transcript

Secretary-General G. O. P. Obasi of the World Meteorological Organization asks: Can Global Health Weather Global Climate?

Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns perturb ecological processes with some beneficial but largely adverse impact on health. The geographical range and seasonality of infectious disease shift especially when the source is small vectors and insects such as mosquitoes and ticks. Even a marginal fall in agricultural productivity can endanger well-being in areas of food insecurity. Warmer weather worsens urban-industrial air pollution; if it is moist as well, air concentrations of allergenic pollens and fungal spores increase. But, on the other hand, the high rate of cold weather mortality will decrease. Recent experiences with severe heat-waves, and the continuing consequences of events related to El Nino, indicate a wide spectrum of physical, microbiological and psychosocial hazards to human health.

Although humans have a great capacity to adapt to varied climates and environments, they are still vulnerable when surrounding meteorological conditions change considerably. For example, exposure to extreme temperatures may lead to heatstroke or frostbite. In most countries, people can live comfortably in the temperature range of 17 [degrees]-31 [degrees] C. However, when the temperature of the surrounding air raises the body's core temperature to above 40.6 [degrees] C, death from heatstroke can result. Scientists have also found that many more people die from causes such as heart attacks during heatwaves - albeit less severe - than during cooler periods. In addition, the human response to weather, as viewed from the point of view of "comfort", depends on temperature as well as humidity and wind. Urban populations are typically more vulnerable than their rural counterparts.

The air around us is full of particles and gases such as pollen, fungal spores and toxic emissions, which have implications for health. In addition, "acid rain" and dry toxic deposits, which contaminate farmlands, forests, water sources and fish stocks, can adversely affect huge areas, depending on meteorological conditions. Thus, the health of populations in distant areas can be affected by pollutants transported by atmospheric circulations from a small number of factories in urban areas.

This has been a major problem Europe, example, where acid rain is said to have damaged remote areas of Scandinavia. Local effects from pollution, such as smog and...