WHO meet to study the impact of climate change on human health

New York, Oct 9 (PTI) A World Health Organisation
(W.H.O.) meet has identified priority areas to assess the
impact of climate change on human health and have agreed on a
plan of action to create guidelines for the same.

Experts at the meeting convened by W.H.O. have
identified five priority research areas. It will take into
account the interaction of climate change with other factors
including economic development and urbanisation along with the
impact of long-term changes such as increasing drought and
comparing the effectiveness of short-term responses.

It will also study the implications of mitigation and
adaptation policies on non-health sectors and boosting public
health systems' ability to address climate change-related
risks.

"This plan provides the framework for doing just
that," W.H.O. Director-General Margaret Chan said.

Over 80 top researchers from around the world met for
three days in Madrid, Spain to draw up their recommendations.
W.H.O.'s 193 Member States had asked the agency to strengthen
the evidence base for policy action to be taken.

The amount of scientific research into the links
between climate change and health lag far behind studies on
such issues as air pollution and smoking, the agency said.