HealthDay reporter
TUESDAY, September 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) – An editorial co-authored by the editors of more than 230 medical journals around the world warns mankind grimly: Climate change is making people sick – and it’s getting worse.
As reported by CNN, the same global warming that causes extreme weather events, has had a number of negative effects on human health over the past two decades, the journal’s editors said. And if the earth – where global temperature has already risen 1.2 ° C – reaches 1.5 ° C above pre-industrial levels, it could be catastrophic to human health, the editors wrote.
The numerous health problems already linked to climate change range from the increase in heat deaths, dehydration, and loss of kidney function to chronic conditions such as heart and lung disease. A warming planet also contributes to skin cancer, tropical infections, allergies, mental health problems, and pregnancy complications.
“Health is already being damaged by the global rise in temperature and the destruction of nature, a condition that health experts have been pointing out for decades,” the editorial reads.
The authors stressed that not enough is being done to contain the climate crisis. Greater action is needed than just pushing the world and the energy industry to switch from fossil fuel use to renewable energy, they said.
The authors also said efforts to achieve “net zero” emissions are relying too heavily on unproven technology to remove the greenhouse gases being emitted. Being at net zero means removing as many greenhouse gases from the atmosphere as are released.
If global warming actually exceeds 2 ° C, as these editors predict, it would bring catastrophic extreme weather events.
“Despite the world’s necessary preoccupation with COVID-19, we cannot wait until the pandemic is over to reduce emissions quickly,” the authors wrote, urging governments to respond to the climate crisis with the same spirit of “unprecedented funding “To respond to the pandemic.
This was the first time so many health publications came together to make a statement that “reflects the severity of climate change the world is now facing,” according to a magazine, theBMJ, based in the United Kingdom.
Several meetings between global leaders are planned for the near future, including next week’s UN General Assembly, a biodiversity conference in Kunming, China in October, and climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland in November.
The expected climate issues included the 1.5 ° C target, the protection of biodiversity and the end of coal use, CNNreported.
“The greatest threat to global public health is the continued failure of world leaders to keep global temperatures below 1.5 ° C and restore nature. There is an urgent need to make societal changes that will lead to a fairer and healthier world, ”the authors wrote. “As publishers of health magazines, we urge governments and other leaders to act and mark 2021 as the year the world will finally change course.”
More information
NASA has more information on climate change.
SOURCE: CNN
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Reference: www.webmd.com
