Effect of climate change on human health and some adaptive strategies – a review

Abstract

The impact of human-induced climate change and ozone depletion are now observed to compromise the sustainability of human development as it threatens the ecological support system on which life depends. Evidences abound to show that there is climate change and ozone layer depletion in the last 2-4 decades. The Earth is warming, the warming is accelerating, and human actions are responsible. If the current climate change and warming trends remain uncontrolled, humanity will face more injury, disease and death related to natural disasters and heat waves; higher rates of food-borne, water-borne and vector-borne illnesses; and death that is more premature and disease related to air pollution. Moreover, in many parts of the world, large populations will be displaced by rising sea level, and many others will be affected by drought and famine. As glaciers melt, the hydrological cycle shifts and the productivity of arable land will change. That is the bad news. Nevertheless, the good news is that through increased interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration, and rapid deployment of mitigation strategies to stabilize climate change as well as development of proactive adaptation programmes to minimize health impact of climate change, the global community will be better prepared to cope with the challenges of protecting health from the impact of climate change.

Key Words: Climate Change, Human Health, Adaptive Strategies