Two recent reports emphasize that significant global climate change has already begun, and that it has had “catastrophic” effects on human populations, primarily those living in developing nations. The first report, from the US Global Change Research Program, warns that “warming of the climate is unequivocal” and that climate-related changes that effect natural resources, agriculture, and human health have already occurred. Major consequences of continued climate change include an increase in heat-related illnesses and deaths, more health-related problems caused by poor air quality, and increased transmission of food-, water-, and insect-borne diseases.
This report, which compiled past scientific work on the effects of climate change, also warned that severe weather events, along with the physical and mental health problems associated with them, are likely to increase, especially in countries with less developed public health systems. In general, vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and people living in poverty experience more severe health effects from climate change. The report states that “[t]he greatest health burdens related to climate change are likely to fall on the poor…” because they often lack resources and choices in their ability to avoid harm. In particular, the report noted that the poor and elderly faced the most severe circumstances during Hurricane Katrina, and that Native Americans are uniquely vulnerable to global warming because they often rely on reservation land for their livelihood and cannot easily relocate.
A second report, from the Global Humanitarian Forum, calls climate change a “silent crisis” that kills 300,000 people each year and displaces 26 million more. The vast majority of these deaths occur in developing nations, although the world’s 50 Least Developed Countries contribute to less than one percent of global emissions. Women and children are hit particularly hard by displacement caused by climate change. Further, the report suggests, climate change threatens to undermine each of the eight global Millennium Development Goals. More than one third of the population is currently vulnerable to climate change, most of these people living in “the semi-arid dry land belt [of sub-Saharan Africa], easily flooded regions on the Equator, and glacier regions.” People in these areas are especially vulnerable to drought, melting ice sheets, floods, storms and sea level rise.
Climate change is also increasing the spread of diseases globally. For example, Lyme disease, once believed to be eradicated in the US and Europe, has now reappeared with warmer temperatures. Similarly, mosquitoes carrying malaria are now able to thrive in previously colder climates, where populations have little natural resistance.
The report also discusses how climate change is likely to increase and intensify poverty globally, as the poor have little access to safety nets such as insurance against damage or disaster. Changes that negatively affect agriculture, fishing or tourism can lead to significant loss of income, and it is estimated that over ten million have already sunk into poverty due to climate change.
The release of these reports coincided with the start of discussion in the US House of Representatives on the new climate and energy bill, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (see full act here).The House passed the bill on June 26 by a narrow margin, and it is now in discussion in the Senate. However, many environmental groups warn that, if passed as currently written, the bill will not go far enough in preventing catastrophic events.
See more:
Climate Change and Global Health: Quantifying a Growing Ethical Crisis
Suffering the Science: Climate change, people, and poverty
Climate-Change Report: From Bad to Worse
Study: A Fairer Way to Cut Global CO2 Emissions
CBO: Climate bill costs to be modest
If world leaders from the North don’t act to stop this, then they will be directly responsible for these deaths in the South.