Climate Change and Health: Risks and Adaptive Strategies

Excessive human pressures on the natural world are causing a range of global environmental changes. These changes are unprecedented in both their geographical scale and temporal pace. The best known example is global climate change, which will have wide-ranging, and mostly adverse, impacts on many natural and human-made systems and constructs. Of particular concern are the risks posed to Earths life-supporting geophysical processes and ecological systems and processes. These natural systems underlie the attaining and maintaining of good health in human populations. The range of health risks from climate change include direct, indirect (mediated), and diffuse and delayed effects. The health risks posed by climate change are now beginning to challenge the skills, creativity and policy engagement of researchers, policy analysts and stakeholders. This chapter provides an overview on the risks to human health posed by climate change, both nationally and internationally. Basic strategies for the long-term avoidance and near-term minimisation of health risks via mitigation of climate change and adaptation to the stresses and threats posed by climate change are also discussed.