The World Health Organization (WHO) has made mortality projections based on climate change scenarios for the year 2030.
This shows that the inclusion of climate threats in the study of the health-disease-care process must be done without losing sight of the multiplicity of factors that affect it. In this way, a complex perspective of health must be assumed in order to be able to incorporate the health challenges that climate change brings with it.
Mainly, the study of the impact of climate on infectious diseases has been addressed in relation to its effects on the pathogen that produces the disease and the vector that transmits it. However, there are other types of climate impacts on health, whether those derived from extreme meteorological events, or others mediated by effects on productive systems, which are not yet properly documented.
This plan presents the main impacts of climate on health, which have been studied for our country. They are grouped into direct and indirect impacts. They are distinguished as direct if they are not mediated by other systems, and indirect if they are mediated by alterations in ecological or human systems.
The phenomena that give rise to these impacts are extreme weather events, which, due to climate change, are projected to change their frequency, intensity and magnitude. Particularly, extreme temperature events and extreme precipitation events are prioritized in this document.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Objectives for 2030:
1. Contribute to reducing climate-related health risks through the implementation of health promotion and protection measures.
2. Strengthen the capacity of the health sector to face the challenges of climate change and ensure the adequate functioning of health services during climate emergencies and disasters.
3. Measure greenhouse gas emissions from the health sector and define actions aimed at reducing them.
