Climate and Health Research A European perspective Øjvind Lidegaard Professor Dept. Obstetrics & Gynaecology Rigshospitalet University of Copenhagen

Climate change and global health Four steps Realize how profound the anthropogenic climate changes are Understand the impact of these changes on global health Take advantage of the different roles we have as health professionals Act

Earth development 4,600 My My before present First life Life on land 0 IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis

Earth development 4,600 My My before present trees fish 3000 First life300 first ice reptiles dinosaurs mammals flowers 500 Life on land 50 ice again 0 0 Deep ocean drills IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis

CO 2 in atmosphere through last 400 My ppm Ice present My Dinosaurs Reptiles Flowers Mammals Fish Trees Extinction event MesozoicCenozoicPaleozoic Era EonP h a n e r o z o i c Ice present

CO 2 in atmosphere through last 50 My ppm IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis My Development in mammals Paleogene period (65-23 My BP)Neogene (23 My - now) C E N O Z O I C E R A Kænozoikum Antarctic glaciation Ice free world Sea level 80 m above present

Paleogene (35 My BP)

CO 2 in atmosphere through last 50 My ppm IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis My Development in mammals Paleogene period (65-23 My BP)Neogene (23 My - now) C E N O Z O I C E R A Kænozoikum Antarctic glaciation Ice free world Sea level 80 m above present

CO 2 in atmosphere through last 5 My ppm IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis My Pliocene epoch ( My BP)Pleistocene ( ) N E O G E N E P E R I O D Last time CO 2 was at the same high as today. At that time sea level was m above present level, and Tp. was 3.5 o C higher

Pliocene (4 My BP)

CO 2 in atmosphere through last 5 My ppm IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis My Pliocene epoch ( My BP)Pleistocene ( ) N E O G E N E P E R I O D Last time CO 2 was at the same high as today. At that time sea level was m above present level, and Tp. was 3.5 o C higher

Earth development 4,600 My My 1000 years trees fish First life300 first ice reptiles500Homo erectus dinosaurs mammals flowers Life on land 50 ice again100Homo sapiens Deep ocean drills IPCC. Assessment report 4, 2007, The Physical Science Basis Ice cores

5oC5oC CO2 and temperature through last 640,000 years

Holocene

Greenhouse gases through last 2,000 years

Holocene

Climate and health Global health threads by climate changes are primarily a consequence of Damages after hurricanes and cyclones Homelessness for millions after floods Climate refugees, unsustainable migration Disintegration of civil infrastructures Shortage of drinking water Starvation <= population, food production Expanding areas of vector-borne diseases

Commitment of health professionals Health professionals have four roles They are members of strong professional international networks e.g. WMA. They are professional health managers They contribute with new knowledge through research They are citizens as all other citizens We can and we should act adequately and timely within each of these four roles Lidegaard & Ricketts (Eds). Climate change and health care. WMA 2009

Commitment of health professionals Professional networks Inform about short- and long term global health impact of climate change Stress that climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century Demand immediate mitigation initiatives Initiate research in health consequences of climate change Costello et al. Lancet 2009; 373:

Commitment of health professionals Health managers and advisors Inform about short- and long term local health impact of climate change Focusing on initiatives which improve public health and global climate at the same time (less use of fossil fuel, diet changes, physical activity) Disclose personal views on climate change Costello et al. Lancet 2009; 373:

Commitment of health professionals Research in climate and health European health consequences of - increased temperature - changed precipitation pattern - melting glaciers

Aletsch Glacier (CH)

Commitment of health professionals Research in climate and health European health consequences of - increased temperature - changed precipitation pattern - melting glaciers - more frequent extreme weather European health benefits of mitigation initiatives European adaptive health initiatives

Research in climate and health European health benefits of mitigation initiatives Physical activity from car to bicycle Adiposity, diabetes, CaVD, cancer Changed diet from meat to vegetables Adiposity, diabetes, CaVD, cancer Urban transportation (car transp ->bicycling) Airway diseases, adiposity, CaVD, cancer Reduced consumption – environment Male reproductive function (TDS)

Research in climate and health European adaptive health initiatives Mobile emergency units to areas hit by extreme weather events Modules in all health educations on climate change and health consequences Reproductive perspectives impact of access to safe contraception and legal abortion for controlling population growth Physical activity – CaVD, cancer, DM, quality of life, life length,

Research in climate and health Professional health organisations Construction of sustainable health institutions buildings, equipment, food, transportation Electronic real time video communication in replacement for distant personal meetings Waste policy re-cycling equipment Environmental footprint of health care sector describe, integrate and recommend green professional practices.

Commitment of health professionals As member of the general society Limiting long distance flights Reduce private fossil fuel consumption Reduce energy consumption (50%) Combine physical activity with personal transportation (e.g. bicycle transportation) Learn your children to behave responsible Involvement in local initiatives

Thank you / slides