Climate change threatens according to a study, the health of more and more people. Accordingly, the number of persons tolerate heat poorly, and a heat wave were exposed to the rose, alone, between 2016 and 2017 to 18 million. In comparison to the year 2000 to 157 million people were affected. The conclusion from a number of scientific institutions in the scientific journal “The Lancet reported”.
As the heat were at risk in the calculations of people who suffer from Diabetes, a cardiovascular disease or chronic respiratory problems, or over 65 years of age, especially if they live in cities. Therefore, the risk for the population in Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean region is particularly high, because there are many seniors live in cities. For comparison: In Europe, the researchers gave 42 percent of the elderly as a heat wave threatened, in South East Asia, it is, therefore, only 34 per cent.
“It is already a reality”
Climate change affects according to the authors, especially a lot of people, because the temperatures are rising in the densely populated regions of relatively high: between 1986 and 2017, the difference in the areas was 0.8 degrees Celsius. In the same period, the global average temperature rose by 0.3 degrees Celsius. The researchers also expect to see a spread of tropical diseases such as Cholera and Dengue fever. In addition, heat increases the air pollution in the cities.
As a heat-vulnerable people who are over 65 years of age to apply.
“Increased mortality due to extreme heat waves is not something that occurs maybe at some point – it is already a reality and will continue if global temperatures continue to rise,” said Kris Ebi, one of the study’s authors and a Professor at the University of Washington. It would much the fact that the company was not sufficiently prepared for the increase in heat waves. It is important, among other things, to identify vulnerable population groups and to consider how they might be in the case of the extreme events to protect.
Positive Trends
But there is also hope, the authors write, calling for action against climate change. So, global coal consumption has fallen since 2013, the will, provided the Trend is obese, there are also on the air quality impact. “Trends in key areas of health, including the phase-out of coal, the use of healthier, cleaner mode of transport and the adaptation of the health system, to justify a cautious optimism,” write the researchers.
For the project “The Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change” have done, among other things, the United Nations and 27 leading research institutions. The project is based on the expertise of Climate scientists, physicians, Ecologists, mathematicians, geographers, engineers, energy, food, agriculture, and transport experts, Economists, Social and political scientists as well as members of the health authorities.
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