Reducing the health risks of climate change

The impacts of climate change on human health are predicted to be unfavourable, varied, and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable population groups who are most exposed and least able to adapt. Likely impacts in many countries include those associated with extreme weather events and natural disasters, lack of sufficient quantities and quality of fresh water, impacts of compromised food security, and increased incidence of communicable diseases including vectorborne diseases.

Vectorborne diseases such as malaria, dengue, tick-borne diseases and plague are particularly susceptible for a number of reasons: the geographical distribution and behaviour of vectors and their hosts are intimately associated with environmental determinants, and transmission dynamics tend to favour warmer, wetter environments. Human responses to climate change, such as increased urbanization following farming failures and storage of water for household use, may also place populations at risk of vectorborne diseases.

Member States of the WHO Western Pacific Region have endorsed resolutions and developed national adaptation programmes of action and other climate change vulnerability analyses and plans to address and respond to climate change and health threats. WHO Western Pacific Regional Office works closely with Member states to build capacity at country and regional levels to minimize the consequences of vectorborne diseases for populations in areas that are prone to climate change. It is expected to contribute towards strengthened health systems and to protect human health from current and projected risks due to climate change.