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 Climate
change is here, and it is here to stay. The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change IPCC, winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize, has provided the scientific
evidence. Greenhouse gas emissions – mainly man made – have already increased
the temperature of the atmosphere with no parallel in the pre-industrial period.
The direct effects of global warming are being
felt today everywhere. The ice shelves in Antarctica and the glaciers in the Himalayas are rapidly melting. The frequency and
intensity of tropical storms are increasing; rising in sea levels are being
observed and rainfall patterns have been disturbed.
While more and more attention is being given
to the impacts of climate change on natural ecosystems and biodiversity, it
is paramount that we recognize the affects on human health. Indeed, climate
change already contributes to the global burden of disease and is responsible
for an estimated 160 000 deaths annually; this contribution is expected to
grow in the future. Complete Message [PDF 102 KB]
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