What Are the Potential Future Health Impacts of Climate Change in Small Island States?
Increasing global average temperature, sea-level rise, and extremes in the hydrologic cycle can have negative impacts on health. Primary concerns for many small island states include that climate change could change the frequency and severity of extreme weather and climate events such as cyclones, floods, and droughts, and change the range and prevalence of climate-sensitive diseases, particularly vectorborne diseases. High-priority diseases identified in the workshops include malaria, dengue fever, diarrheal diseases, heat stress, skin diseases, acute respiratory infections, and asthma. Small island states also face health-related problems due to sea-level rise, including coastal flooding; exacerbated storm surges; damaged coastal infrastructure; salination of island fresh water; damage to coastal ecosystems, coral reefs, and coastal fisheries; and population displacement. Few studies have been conducted of the potential future health impacts of climate change under different climate
Related Questions
- Are the potential positive and/or negative health and well-being impacts likely to affect specific sub groups disproportionately compared with the whole population?
- Virginia, what does this report tell us regarding preparing for future climate change and related impacts?
- Can a negative declaration be based on results of future studies about potential impacts?
