1. The Impact of Global Warming in Poor Countries O. Saavedra, MD, FACP

3. Impacts & Inequalities “Catastrophes are not democratic.” Loss of healthy life years in Africa will be 500 times that in Europe IPCC – adverse health effects in poor countries Unequal access to environmental fundamentals 1.1 billion people lack safe drinking water 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation UNMDG’s - unachievable

4. Millennium Development Goals Eradicate extreme hunger & poverty Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality & empower women Reduce child mortality Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Improve maternal health Develop global partnership for development

5. “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhumane” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

8. Poor Countries and Climate Change Economy dependency on agriculture Economy dependency on agriculture Population growth, rainfall pattern, water Population growth, rainfall pattern, water Falls in crop yields – increase undernourished Falls in crop yields – increase undernourished Diverting fertile land to biofuel production Diverting fertile land to biofuel production Deforestation. Intern. Alliance of Forest People Deforestation. Intern. Alliance of Forest People Extreme events Extreme events Climate sensitive viral diseases: humans, etc Climate sensitive viral diseases: humans, etc Increase in conflicts, displacement Increase in conflicts, displacement

9. 11 th Annual Earth Day Expo Saturday, April 26, 2008 – Winnie Palmer Hospital Auditorium

10. Earth Web Foundation Vision statement “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things are connected.” Chief Seatle,1864 Dedicated to strengthening the threads that connect all of us by focusing on health, environmental and educational initiatives. Empowering individuals of all races, socioeconomic classes and nations to improve living conditions for current and future generations

11. Our Response Public education – improving awareness Public education – improving awareness Medical curriculum – minimize GHGs Medical curriculum – minimize GHGs Health sector training, disaster preparedness Health sector training, disaster preparedness Prevention = vaccines, pest control, food hygiene, nutritional support Prevention = vaccines, pest control, food hygiene, nutritional support Health care to all – “a human right” Health care to all – “a human right” CDC (www.cdc.gov/nceh/climatechange) CDC (www.cdc.gov/nceh/climatechange)