Climate and energy issues as preconditions for health and well being

Abstract Globalization and modern economic trends bring enormous changes to civilization. The human health pattern also changes and the overall system becomes more complex. Exponential growth in demographic, in economic and in human activities alters the natural global environment beyond safe or sustainable borders, which refers to energy for the future, as well as climate change in the broadest sense. These changes pose threats to human health and with the rise in temperature the most visible symptoms are seen in the difficulty of securing sufficient energy amount, as well as the appropriate supply of health-safe food and water. Global influences on the health of the population require changes in different sectors (economy, health, economy, etc). Even though, World Meteorological Organization data show that the five-year average global temperature from 2013 to 2017 was at a record level, and that in 2017 it was one of the three hottest years. Today, about 3 billion people have no access to safe food and/or water and are also exposed to significant air pollution. Nearly one billion people have no electricity in the household, and 13% of the world’s population has no access to modern electricity. Air pollution indoors by using combustible fuels for domestic energy caused 4.3 million deaths in 2012 (women and girls accounted for 6 out of 10). Energy has a dominant contribution to climate changes and accounts for about 60% of overall global greenhouse gas emissions. Overall progress made through the use of renewable energy sources should reduce risks and allow for the improvement of basic living conditions. However, a significant shift in reducing inequalities and improving global quality of life and health indicators requires transformation of many sectors. Energy, therefore, is crucial for almost every challenge the world is facing today (climate change, food production, health systems, etc.). SDG 7 is particularly important and is linked to other SDGs.

Download Full-text

5.O. Workshop: Climate change and energy issues in our life-course and our environment

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.396 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Living Environment ◽

Significant Shift ◽

Strategic Choices ◽

Global Quality Of Life ◽

Energy Domain ◽

Energy Issues

Abstract Globalization and economic trends bring enormous changes to civilization. Growth in demographic, economic and human activities alters the natural global environment beyond safe or sustainable borders. Energy domain is one of these borders we cross. These changes pose threats to human health and with the rise in temperature the visible symptoms are seen in the difficulty of securing sufficient and clean energy, as well as the appropriate supply of health-safe food and water. Overall progress made through the use of renewable energy sources should reduce risks and allow for the improvement of basic living conditions. However, a significant shift in reducing inequalities and improving global quality of life and health indicators requires transformation of many sectors. The calculated health impacts and health costs from Western Balkan coal plants are a case study that show 3,000 premature deaths, 8,000 cases of bronchitis in children, and other chronic illnesses; costing both health systems and economies a total of EUR 6.1-11.5 billion. Another example illustrates how schools can contribute to change. Results from behavioral change studies show the audience in which frame they fit in their possibilities to influence their behavior towards their living environment. Followed by a discussion on strategic choices on how to motivate people to protect their environment and climate. Key messages Energy issues are a main driver in reducing health risks. Knowledge about framing our values towards climate change might change our behavior.

Download Full-text

A Transdisciplinary Approach to Address Climate Change Adaptation for Human Health and Well-Being in Africa

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18084258 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 4258

Author(s):

Caradee Yael Wright ◽

Candice Eleanor Moore ◽

Matthew Chersich ◽

Rebecca Hester ◽

Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Human Health ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Health Sector ◽

Well Being ◽

World Health ◽

Economic Policies ◽

Comprehensive Health ◽

African Context

The health sector response to dealing with the impacts of climate change on human health, whether mitigative or adaptive, is influenced by multiple factors and necessitates creative approaches drawing on resources across multiple sectors. This short communication presents the context in which adaptation to protect human health has been addressed to date and argues for a holistic, transdisciplinary, multisectoral and systems approach going forward. Such a novel health-climate approach requires broad thinking regarding geographies, ecologies and socio-economic policies, and demands that one prioritises services for vulnerable populations at higher risk. Actions to engage more sectors and systems in comprehensive health-climate governance are identified. Much like the World Health Organization’s ‘Health in All Policies’ approach, one should think health governance and climate change together in a transnational framework as a matter not only of health promotion and disease prevention, but of population security. In an African context, there is a need for continued cross-border efforts, through partnerships, blending climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and long-term international financing, to contribute towards meeting sustainable development imperatives.

Download Full-text

Planetary Health, Climate Change, and Lifestyle Medicine: Threats and Opportunities

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine ◽

10.1177/15598276211008127 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155982762110081

Author(s):

Neha Pathak ◽

Amanda McKinney

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Human Health ◽

Core Competencies ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Potential Health ◽

Lifestyle Medicine ◽

The Face ◽

Mitigate Climate Change

Global environmental degradation and climate change threaten the foundation of human health and well-being. In a confluence of crises, the accelerating pace of climate change and other environmental disruptions pose an additional, preventable danger to a global population that is both aging and carrying a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Climate change and environmental disruption function as “threat multipliers,” especially for those with NCDs, worsening the potential health impacts on those with suboptimal health. At the same time, these environmental factors threaten the basic pillars of health and prevention, increasing the risk of developing chronic disease. In the face of these threats, the core competencies of lifestyle medicine (LM) present crucial opportunities to mitigate climate change and human health impacts while also allowing individuals and communities to build resilience. LM health professionals are uniquely positioned to coach patients toward climate-healthy behavior changes that heal both people and the planet.

Download Full-text

Human health, well- being and climate change in China

Climate Risk and Resilience in China ◽

10.4324/9781315744988-20 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 201-230

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Human Health ◽

Well Being

Download Full-text

Aerosol exposure versus aerosol cooling of climate: what is the optimal emission reduction strategy for human health?

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-10-9441-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 10 (19) ◽

pp. 9441-9449 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

J. Löndahl ◽

E. Swietlicki ◽

E. Lindgren ◽

S. Loft

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Human Health ◽

Health Effects ◽

Health Effect ◽

Health Benefit ◽

Cooling Effect ◽

Short Time Scale ◽

Ship Emissions ◽

Aerosol Emissions

Abstract. Particles, climate change, and health have thought-provoking interactions. Air pollution is one of the largest environmental problems concerning human health. On the other hand, aerosol particles can have a cooling effect on climate and a reduction of those emissions may result in an increased temperature globally, which in turn may have negative health effects. The objective of this work was to investigate the "total health effects" of aerosol emissions, which include both exposure to particles and consequences for climate change initiated by particles. As a case study the "total health effect" from ship emissions was derived by subtracting the number of deaths caused by exposure with the estimated number of lives saved from the cooling effect of the emissions. The analysis showed that, with current level of scientific understanding, it could not be determined whether ship emissions are negative or positive for human health on a short time scale. This first attempt to approximate the combined effect of particle emissions on health shows that reductions of particulate air pollution will in some cases (black carbon) have win-win effects on health and climate, but sometimes also cause a shift from particle exposure-related health effects towards an increasing risk of health consequences from climate change. Thus, measures to reduce aerosol emissions have to be coupled with climate change mitigation actions to achieve a full health benefit on a global level.

Download Full-text

Health-relevant influences of air substances and meteorological conditions

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-2669 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Stephanie Koller ◽

Christa Meisinger ◽

Markus Wehler ◽

Elke Hertig

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Human Health ◽

Health Effects ◽

Supplementary Information ◽

Human Organism ◽

Average Risk ◽

Emergency Department Data

For a long time it has been known that exceptionally strong and long-lasting heat waves have negative health effects on the population, which is expressed in an intensification of existing diseases and over-mortality of certain risk groups (Kampa, Castanas 2008). Often associated with heat are stagnant airflow conditions that cause a large increase in the concentration of certain air substances (Ebi, McGregor 2008). Many of these air substances have a strong adverse effect on the human organism (Kampa, Castanas 2008).The aim of the project is to investigate the actual hazard potential of health-relevant air pollution- and climatological variables by quantifying the effects on human health of increased exposure to air constituents and temperature extremes. Different multivariate statistical methods such as correlation analysis, regression models and random forests, extreme value analysis and individual case studies are used.As a medical data basis for this purpose, the emergency department data of the University Hospital Augsburg are regarded. In addition to the diagnosis, supplementary information such as age, gender, place of residence and pre-existing conditions of the patients are used. Among the air constituents, the focus is on ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. In the meteorological part, the focus is primarily on temperature, which is not only a direct burden but, as in the case of ozone, also has a decisive influence on the formation of ozone molecules. However, a large number of other meteorological parameters such as precipitation, relative humidity and wind speed as well as the synoptic situation also play a major role in the formation, decomposition process and the distribution of pollutants (Ebi, McGregor 2008).The first major question to answer is whether air-pollution and meteorological stress situations are visible in the emergency department data. Further in-depth questions are which factors have the greatest negative impact, what is the most common environment-related disease, which weather conditions carry a higher than average risk and what are the health risks of climate change.Ideally, the analysis may also provide a short-term forecast from which to derive whether or not there will be an above or below average number of visits to the emergency department.The project is funded by the German Federal Foundation for Environment (DBU) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) - project number 408057478.LiteratureEbi K., McGregor G. (2008): Climate Change, Tropospheric Ozone and Particulate Matter, and Health Impacts. doi: 10.1289/ehp.11463Kampa M., Castanas E. (2008): Human health effects of air pollution. In: Environmental Pollution 151(2): 362-367. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2007.06.012

Download Full-text

Climate change, air pollution and human health in Sydney, Australia: A review of the literature

Environmental Research Letters ◽

10.1088/1748-9326/aac02a ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 053003 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Annika Dean ◽

Donna Green

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Human Health ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Sydney Australia

Download Full-text

Our children’s children

The Great Health Dilemma ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198853824.003.0008 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 159-178

Author(s):

Christopher Dye

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Economy ◽

Carbon Taxes ◽

Solar Hydrogen ◽

Transformative Action

Climate change is prevention’s biggest challenge—its effects on health and well-being will be wide-ranging, long-term, and global. The pressures and opportunities for action are growing as the risks and hazards become clearer, greater, and nearer. Mitigation—cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (primary prevention)—benefits health, economy, environment, and society through agriculture, transport, air quality, energy supply, and waste management. Adaptation (secondary prevention) is the essential back-up when mitigation fails; there are strong incentives for local adaptation to counter predictable local threats such as extreme urban temperatures, flooding, and water scarcity. Carbon taxes are a powerful but underexploited mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, so need to be reinforced by other incentives, including subsidies for wind, solar, hydrogen, and hydropower. Now more than ever, the pressure for transformative action on climate change has the potential to stimulate sudden and rapid movement towards clean energy sources and technologies.

Download Full-text