Climate change and health

Key facts

• Climate change affects the fundamental requirements for health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter.
• The global warming that has occurred since the 1970s was causing over 140 000 excess deaths annually by the year 2004.
• Many of the major killers such as diarrhoeal diseases, malnutrition, malaria and dengue are highly climate-sensitive and are expected to worsen as the climate changes.
• Areas with weak health infrastructure – mostly in developing countries – will be the least able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond.
• Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases through better transport, food and energy-use choices can result in improved health.

Source: WHO Fact Sheet No. 266