Climate Change, Health & Sustainable

Development
Dr. Nita Chaudhuri, American
University, Paris, France – Consultant
of WHO

Visitor of the Department of Pesticide

Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of
Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria,
Egypt, November 2022
Global Environmental Change
Global climate change

Ozone depletion

Biodiversity loss

Worldwide land degradation

Freshwater depletion

Global Dissemination of Pesistant Organic Pollutants

(POPs)
Climate Change

What is it?
Climate

Climate is what Climate

Climate change
you expect variability
• Based on 30 • Short term • Operates over
year averages fluctuations decades or
• Weather is around the longer
what we average • General
experience weather circulation
day to day • Includes models
ENSO (El (GCMs)
Nino- • Scenarios
Southern not
Oscillations) predictions
Climate
What is Changing

Changes in
Increase in extreme
Warming trend precipitation (increasing
weather events
and decreasing)

• Heatwaves, cold
snaps, severe storms
and droughts
Indicators of Global Warming
Current State of Climate

IPCC 6AR
Indicators of Global Warming

Much harder to measure precipitation

than temperature

Leads to less confidence in large scale

changes in observed precipitation

Precipitation much more variable both

geographically and through time
Retreating Glaciers in Himalayas
Project Exposure of poor people to floods
and droughts in selected regions
Climate Change Causes

 Climate Forcings
 Natural or anthropogenic main climate forcings
over the last 2000 years

 Volcanic eruptions,
 Changes in the Sun's radiative output,
 Anthropogenic Greenhouse gases (carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, halocarbons),
tropospheric aerosols) and land use
1,000 Years of Changes in Carbon Emissions,
CO2 Concentrations, and Temperature
Global Sources of Greenhouse Gases by
Sector IPCC 2014
Climate Change

Projections
Shared Socioeconomic Pathways in IPCC 6AR
Temperature Rise

Assuming a doubling of the concentration of

greenhouse gases from pre-industrial levels

High latitudes expected to warm 3-5°C over next

hundred years

Low latitude temperature may increase by 0.5-

1.5°C

The global mean temperature increase for this

scenario is estimated to be approximately 2.5°C
Current Climate Egypt

 There have been widespread warming trends over Egypt since 1960
with greater warming in summer (0.31°C per decade) than during
winter (0.07°C per decade); statistical confidence is higher for the
summer warming trend.

 Between 1960 and 2003, there has been an increase in the

frequency of warm nights and a decrease in the frequency of cool
nights, and a general increase in average summer temperatures.

 Nighttime temperatures (daily minimum) show a widespread positive

shift in the distribution with fewer cool nights and more warm nights.
In Egypt
 Temperature rise
 .53 C rise per decade for the

last 30 years  Precipitation

 Inconsequential since receives

 Rising Sea level little rainfall. Uncertainty with

 Unpredictable
future predictions.
 Sea levels have risen across the
Mediterranean by an average of more  Water scarcity
than 3.1 mm each year since 1992..
Measurements on the Egyptian coast  Evapotranspiration due to
indicate that sea level is continuously increasing temperature
rising at a rate of 1.8 and 4.9 mm/year
with an average of 3 mm/year. 30 cm by
2050  Heat waves
 Increased salinity of soil
 Saline intrusion of water  Extreme weather events
 Flooding of coastal areas  Dust storms
Consequences

CLIMATE CHANGE
Effect of Extreme Temperatures When the
Mean Temperature Increases
Some Areas are Projected to Become
Wetter, Others Drier

Annual mean precipitation change: 2071 to 2100 relative to 1990.

IPCC 2007b
IPCC 6AR 2022
Heatwave exposure in Egypt
Climate Change

Human Health
Heatwaves and Strokes
Infectious Diseases Water borne,
Foodborne diseases,
Vectorborne
Water and Food borne Diseases

1.6 million people died because of diarrheal diseases in 2017.

Diarrheal diseases are among the leading causes of death global
Worlds Major Vector borne Disease and
likelihood of altered distribution with CC
Projected Change in the abundance of Aedes aegypti
principle vectors of dengue, yellow fever, chinkungunya
Climate Infection Engine
Malnutrition
Malnutrition
 Fluctuating crop yields decreased food supplies
 Frequency and severity of extreme events such as cyclones,
floods, hailstorms and droughts, water scarcity, salinisation of
agricultural land, increase plant infection and pests

 Exposure to toxic contaminants and biotoxins

 Resulting from extreme weather events

 Increased pesticide use for food production

 Increase harmful algal blooms

 Drought
 Diminishes dietary diversity leads to micronutrient deficiences
Malnutrition

 Climate Change and Food Security

 Infectious disease causes or compounds hunger
which makes affected population more
susceptible to infectious disease

 Climate change could place an additional 5-

170 million people « at risk of hunger » by
2080’s (Parry et al, 2004)
Malnutrition: First cause of child mortality
Air Quality
Air Quality

 Weather determines
 Transport, dispersion and deposition of air pollutants

 Passage of fronts, cyclonic and anti-cyclonic systems and

their associated air masses particularly important

 Air pollution episodes are associated with stationary or

slowly migrating anti-cyclonic or high pressure systems
which reduce pollution dispersion and diffusion

 Certain weather patterns enhance the development of the

urban heat island, the intensity for which may be important
for secondary chemical reactions within the urban
atmosphere.
Deaths attributable to PM2.5 exposure in Egypt
2015,2019
Air pollution is a major risk factor for Non-
Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

5 main NCD diseases

61
Figure 1. Key interconnections between emission sources, air quality, climate change, and public
health.
Global problems: climate change / 2
Identifying common drivers of climate change and
air pollution.

Karagulian et al, 2015 IPCC, 2014

2/3 of ambient air pollution emissions are generated by

fossil fuel combustion.
65
 Global problems: climate change / 3
Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs)
= pollutants that while having a shorter atmospheric lifetime have a greater
warming potential than CO2 therefore substantially contributing to climate
change.
Air pollutant
SLCPs Climate driver harming human
health

Black carbon (BC) is a component of PM2.5

formed from the incomplete combustion of
carbon-based fuels, it has a lifetime in the
atmosphere of 1-2 weeks.

Tropospheric ozone (O3) *

Methane (CH4) *

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCS) *

* greenhouse gases (GHG) 66

Ground level ozone formation is sensitive to temperature,sunlight
and other climate factors as well as local pollution precursor
emissions

Association between days of high ambient

temperature and ground-level ozone
concentration in Chicago, US 1980-2012.

Higher temperatures contributes to O3 formation

as they increase emissions of volatile organic
compounds which are the precursors of
tropospheric ozone.
 Global problems: climate change / 5
Factors affecting wind erosion and the resultant impacts of dust
emissions on the environment.

Desert storm in Arizona, US. Credits: Phoenix Arizona Haboob Panorama

7.5.2011 Christopher Marks CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Adapted from
Ravi et al. (2011)
Dust and smog in northeast China are featured in this
image photographed by an Expedition 12 crewmember on
the International Space Station. Credits: ISS012-E-21250
NASA Johnson CC BY-NC 2.0
68
Allergic Illnesses and Aeroallergens
Climate Change

Responses
Mitigation and Adaptation
Mitigation

 Working with other sectors to reduce global

greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of
climate change.
Mitigation - Wedges to Slow or Reverse Climate Change

Forgoe Fossil Fuels: Wise Purchasing

 Hybrid
 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
 Demand side management
 Buy to last longer
 Green building/heat
capture,infrastructure  Think Green
 Efficent coal plants

Energy Efficiency
Alternative Transport  Fuel and well maintained cars
 Move closer to work  Efficient appliances
 Mass transit
 Walk,cycle
 Reduce air travel – take rail
 Sustainable urban planning
Wedges to Slow or Reverse Climate
Change (Mitigation)
Go Vegetarian Unplug

 Each meat-eating American  Plugged in devices consume

produces 1.4 tons more electricity
greenhouse

Renewable energy
Stop Cutting Trees  Wind
 Every year 33 million forests cut  Solar
down.
 H2, Fuel cells
 Timber harvesting in tropics
 Biofuels
contributes to 1.4 billion metric
tons carbon in atmosphere  Carbon capture
Climate Change

Public Health Adaptive Responses

Public Health Responses

 Vulnerability Assessment
 Adaptation
 Health Impact Assessment
 Surveillance
 Communication and Outreach
 Preparedness and Response
 Training and Technical Assistance
 Policy Development
Vulnerability

« The degree to which a system is suceptible

to, or unable to cope with adverse effects of
climate change, including climate variability
and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of
the character, magnitude and rate of climate
variation to which a system is exposed, its
sensitivity and its adaptive capacity »
Vulnerability

Vulnerability is a function of:

 Exposure to climate hazards
 Probability of the occurrence of ecosystem impact or effect
(heatwave, emerging disease, smog episode)
 Sensitivity to those impacts
 Degree to which a system is affected, either adversely or
beneficially by climate related stimuli
 SES status, biology, genetics, gender, health behaviour,
health services
 Adaptive capacity
 Ability of a system to manage change successfully.
Adaptive Capacity

« Ability of a system to adjust to climate change

(including climate variability and extremes) to
moderate potential damages to take
advantage of opportunities or to cope with
consequences »(IPCC, 2007)
Possible Adaptation Measures to Manage Health
Risks related to Climate Change (Canada)
Heat Stress Extreme Weather Infectious Water and Air Pollution
Events Diseases Foodborne
Diseases

Surveillance and Prepare registries of Prepare registries of Identify most Identify most Identify most
Monitoring vulnerable individuals vulnerable vulnerable vulnerable vulnerable
(e.g. seniors) that require individuals (e.g. populations populations populations.
assistance. Establish hot seniors) that require Surveillance
weather response plans assistance. Early of vector Surveillance Establish air
and early warning monitoring of health populations of water and quality monitoring
systems outcomes from Monitor and food borne systems
extreme weather reporting of diseases
events disease Establish
incidence Monitor and systems for
Enhance reporting of reporting the
quantitative data on disease impact of vehicles
short term and incidence and other
longer term health polluting sources
impacts of extreme on air quality
weather events
Possible Adaptation Measures to Manage Health
Risks related to Climate Change
Heat Stress Extreme Weather Infectious Water and Air Pollution
Events Diseases Foodborne
Diseases

Public Education Early Warning systems Early warning systems Early warning idem Issue Air
and Provide information about Provide inforamtion systems for health Quality Index
health risks of heat stres about risk of natural professionals daily to the
Communication
and actions to protect disasters in specific public
health communities Provide
information to Provide
Provide information about Provide info about residents, information
mesures to reduce actions that would travellers and about actions
temperatures in and reduce exposure vulnerable to take to
around homes (e.g. before , during and populations that reduce
planting bushes and after extreme weather takes into account exposure to air
trees) event changes in pollutants for
epidemiology of vulnerable
infectious diseases groups in
Provide information particular (e.g.
about actions to take reduce exertion
in preparation for and Provide
information on levels and
during extreme energy
weather evetns (e.g. precautions to take
to avert risks consumption,
stockpiling non- stay indoors
perishable food) (correct
handwashing, car pool
immunization)
Possible Adaptation Measures to Manage Health
Risks related to Climate Change
Heat Stress Extreme Weather Infectious Water and Air Pollution
Events Diseases Foodborne
Diseases

Medical Intervention activities Provide training to Develop and make Develop Increase public
Interventions (e.g. « heatline ») to medical and available new and make health staff with
provide information to emergency staff; enlist drugs and available a mandate to
vulnerable populations « and train volunteers to vaccines new drugs provide
Buddy system » to check be recruited during an and other information on
on neighbours) emergency Public treatments air quality
immunization health effects
Include climate change Maintain disaster programs Include
projectiosn in health management climate Include climate
planning programs, including Include climate change change
tools for local public change projections projections projections in
health facilities to in health planning in health health planning
provide rapid health planning
needs

Include climate
change projections in
health plannings
Possible Adaptation Measures to Manage Health
Risks related to Climate Change
Heat Stress Extreme Weather Infectious Water and Air Pollution
Events Diseases Foodborne
Diseases

Legislative Building guidelines that Improve land use Quarantine laws Watershed Reduce
make buildings more heat planning (e.g. liit protection emissions from
resistant development in high Travel and laws fossil fuel
Requirements for smart risk areas such as importation of power
urban planning to reduce floodplains or coasts) goods laws Water generating
urban heat island effect quality stations
Foster environmental regulations
management (e.g. Traffic
defensive structures to restrictions
minimize flash floods,
water conservation) Determine new
air quality
Building guidelines to guidelines and
account for increasing standards to
weather severity protect human
health
Possible Adaptation Measures to Manage Health
Risks related to Climate Change
Heat Stress Extreme Weather Infectious Water and Air Pollution
Events Diseases Foodborne
Diseases

Infrastructure Provide accessible air Identify critical and Laboratory Laboratory Improve public
Development conditioned public hazardous facilities for rapid facilities for transit systems
facilities and shelters infrastructure detection of rapid and bicycle
pathogens detection of lanes to reduce
Provide accessible Develop cost sharing disease traffic related
drinking fountains in mechanism (e.g. Improve pathogens pollution levels
outdoor public places insurance) for infrastructure for
compensation to effective Upgrade Incentive
Extend hours of cooling reduce post event interventions (e.g. water programs for
facilities mental and economic emergency rooms, treatment, citizens,
stresses stockpiles) sewage households,
and communities
Improve infrastructure sanitation and
for effective facilities to corporations to
interventions (e.g. deal with reduce
emergency rooms and more emissions and
stockpiles) maintain severe energy
and test public extreme consumption
shelters and weather
evacuation plans
idem
Maintaindams, flood
plains and storm
runoff capabilities
Possible Adaptation Measures to Manage Health
Risks related to Climate Change
Heat Stress Extreme Weather Infectious Water and Air
Events Diseases Foodborne Pollution
Diseases

Technology and Improve urban design to Strengthen and Vector control Disease Promote
Engineering reduce heat island effect enforce building codes measures (e.g. prevention and
(e.g. planting trees, and standards reduce breeding measures encourag
increasing green spaces, grounds for reflecting the e use of
shading conditions along Develop and mosquitoes and latest information alternativ
streets and parking lots, implement protective other vectors) from Canadain e (clean)
pattern of subdivision and technologies: hard and international fuels and
shape size and (sea walls, dams, surveillance and zero
orientation of building dykes) nd soft research emission
lots) (marshes, wet lands, organisations vehicles
natural buffers etc) to
reduce the potential New technologies
for floods to improve water
treatment,
Increase redundancy, sewage and
efficiency and sanitation
resilience of power facilities
supply grids.
Adaptive Techniques
 System of safe drinking
water and sanitation, Water
harvesting

 Changing cropping
techniques, drought or flood
resistant varieties

 Water saving Irrigation

techniques
Adaptive Techniques
 Flood Defenses

 No Settlements in
vulnerable areas

 Integrated Vector
Management
Case Study Environmentally Sustainable
Health Systems Framework

 In 2018 IPCC to restrict global temperature

rise to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions
must decrease 45% by 2030 compared with
2010 and reach net zero by 2050.
Conclusions IPCC Sixth Assessment
Report
1. Climate impacts are already more widespread and severe than
expected.
 Climate change is already causing widespread disruption in every

region in the world with just 1.1 degrees C (2 degrees F) of

warming.

2. We are locked into even worse impacts from climate change in

the near-term.
 Even if the world rapidly decarbonizes, greenhouse gases already in the
atmosphere and current emissions trends will make some very significant climate
impacts unavoidable through 2040.
Conclusions IPCC Sixth Assessment
Report
.
3. Risks will escalate quickly with higher temperatures, often
causing irreversible impacts of climate change.
 The report finds that every tenth of a degree of additional warming
will escalate threats to people, species and ecosystems. Even
limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F) — a global
target in the Paris Climate Agreement — is not safe for all.

4. Inequity, conflict and development challenges heighten

vulnerability to climate risks.
 Right now, 3.3 billion-3.6 billion people live in countries highly
vulnerable to climate impacts, with global hotspots concentrated in
Small Island Developing States, the Arctic, South Asia, Central and
South America, and much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Conclusions IPCC Sixth Assessment
Report
5. Adaptation is crucial. Feasible solutions already exist, but more
support must reach vulnerable communities.

6. But some impacts of climate change are already too severe to

adapt to. The world needs urgent action now to address losses
and damages.
Sustainable Development Goals
Seven Elements of a Climate Friendly Hospital
that contributes to SD
Energy Efficiency
 Reduce hospital energy consumption and costs through efficiency and conservation
measures.
Green building design
 Build hospitals that are responsive to local climate conditions and optimized for reduce energy
and resource demands
Alternative energy generation
 Produce and/or consume clean, renewable energy onsite to ensure reliable and resilient
operation.
Transportation
 Use alternative fuels for hospital vehicle fleets; encourage walking and cycling to the facility;
promote staff, patient and community use of public transport: site health care buildings to
minimize the need for staff and patient transportation
Food
 Provide sustainably grown local food for staff and patients
Waste
 Reduce, reuse, recycle, compost and employ alternatives to waste incineration.
Water
 Conserve ater; avoid bottled water and when safe alternative exist.
Proportion of Global Warming Potential of
Swiss Hospital
Energy Efficiency
Mexico: Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Hospital
 Energy Saving campaign
 Educational: Staff turn off lights
and computers, unplug
electronic devices when not in
use, more efficient lighting was
installed throughout facilities,
use of natural light.

 Monitoring of air conditioning,

depending on temperature
conditions, reduce power use
on weekends, energy
capacitors to reduce energy
use during peak use periods.
Green Building Design

 Green building principles in

design and construction
 Hospital retrofits

 Siting hospitals near

transportation routes
 Using local and regional
building materials
 Planting trees

 Day lightings

 Natural ventilation

 Green roofs
Singapore: Changi General Hospital,
Simei
 Lobby features koi ponds,
palm trees and orchid murals
 Hydroponic garden on hospital
roof grows produce for the
hospital kitchen while cooling
the building.
 Sun-shading devices, use of
natural light
 Automatic doors to maximized
cooling efficiency
 Energy efficient ceiling fans
 Motion sensor lighting
 Low flow water fixtures.
Alternative Energy Generation

 Solar, Wind, some

biofuels

Rwanda: Partners in
Health developed solar
diesel hybrid systems
for health clinics with
diesel as back-up in
case of heavy use or
extended periods of rain
Transportation

Cut transportation emissions by

 effective siting and programming of medical
care delivery,
 using high efficiency or alternative fuel
vehicles,
 encouraging hospital staff and patients to use
bicycles, public transportation or car pools
 Purchase from local suppliers or/and
suppliers with fuel efficient transportation
Food
 Making changes in hospital
service menus and practices
to reduce climate footprint
and improve patient health.
 Limiting the amount of meat
 Producing food onsite
 Composting food waste
 Buying local and organic
produce
 By promoting and supporting
nutritious, localized
sustainable food systems
Waste
 Cut waste and emissions
 Composting
 Recycling (including
anaesthetic gases)
 Better purchasing (minimizing
packaging, using reusable
rather than disposable
products, buying recycled
products)
 Minimizing waste transport
(local treatment and disposal)
 Infectious waste can be
disinfected and buried instead
of incinerated.
Water
 Closely monitor water use
 Install water efficient fixtures
and technologies
 Growing drought resistant
plants
 Make sure leaks are quickly
reparied.
 Harvest rain water and recycle
water for non-drinking
purposes.
 Where potable water is
available eliminate the
purchase and sale of bottled
water.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yHcXQo
R1zA&t=19s
 https://cape.ca/wp-
content/uploads/2019/05/Climate-Change-
Toolkit-for-Health-Professionals-Updated-
April-2019-2.pdf
THANK YOU