Abstract
Background: Climate change and rising average global temperatures threaten to disrupt the physical, biological and ecological life support systems on which human health depends. OBJECTIVE This article overviews the evidence for human induced climate change, the predicted health impacts, and the role of primary health care professionals in managing these impacts. Discussion: Climate change has substantial potential health effects. These include heat stress related to heatwaves; injuries related to extreme weather events such as storms, fires and floods; infectious disease outbreaks due to changing patterns of mosquito borne and water borne diseases; poor nutrition from reduced food availability and affordability; the psychosocial impact of drought; and the displacement of communities. Primary health care has an important role in preparing for and responding to these climate change related threats to human health.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 986-989 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Australian Family Physician |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2007 |