Over 3 bln people worldwide face health impacts of global warming – WHO

Dubai: As many as 3.3 billion people around the world are vulnerable to the effects of climate change and face health risks as a result of it, with one person dying every four seconds due to preventable environmental factors, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health, Vanessa Kerry, said on Sunday.
Over the next 10 years, the world will see an increase in the number of preventable deaths and greater morbidity for millions of people as climate change exacerbates non-communicable and transmissible diseases, as well as maternal and neonatal emergencies and mental health problems, Kerry said at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.
She cited the example of Pakistan, which had nearly eliminated malaria in several provinces, only to see the number of cases quadruple to 1.6 million after floods in 2022. The worst cholera outbreak in Malawi was caused by strong storms caused by climate change, Kerry added.
Each climate event leaves behind devastation, death, and a long history of health complications, Kerry said. There is no other way to combat the impact of climate change on health than to phase out fossil fuels, and simply mitigating or reducing greenhouse gas emissions is no longer an option, she said.
UNI/SPUTNIK