Linkage of Climate Change,

Water and Health

LEONARDO C. SAWAL, ASEAN Engr. ACPE
National Auditor-PSSE
 Outline
Key Concepts and Terminology
What is Climate Change
Linkage of Climate Change and Water
Linkage of Climate Change and Health
Strategies and Policy Options
Conclusion
 Key Concepts and Terminologies

Weather Climate Climate

Variability

Global Climate
Greenhouse effect
warming Change
WEATHER set of meteorological conditions (wind, rain,
snow, sunshine, temperature, etc.) at a particular time and place
- what we experience day-to-day
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CLIMATE overall long-term characteristics of the weather
experienced at a place (average conditions and variability
-what we expect based on 30-year averages
Climate variability -short-term fluctuations around the
average weather
Greenhouse effect a natural process of warming the earth by
greenhouse gases

Enhanced greenhouse effect an increase in the concentration of

greenhouse gases due to human activities leading to abnormal
greenhouse effect and excessive global warming
 Greenhouse Gases

Compound Formula Contribution

(%)
Water vapor and
H2 O 36 72%
clouds
Carbon dioxide CO2 9 26%
Methane CH4 49%

Ozone O3 37%
IMPORTANCE OF Greenhouse gases
If there is no greenhouse effect, the average
temperature on the earths surface would
approximately be -15oC and life on earth would then be
unattainable
 Climate Change
A change in the state of the climate that can be
identified (e.g. using statistical tests)
by changes in the mean and/or the variability of
its properties, and that persists for an extended
period, typically decades or longer (IPCC)
Can trigger extreme or severe weather events and
change weather patterns

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 Climate Change Impact on Water
Warmer temperatures increase the rate of evaporation
of water into the atmosphere
Increased evaporation may dry out some areas and
may fall as excess precipitation on other areas
leading to flooding
Excessive precipitation may cause flooding and
ruins peoples properties, and sometimes lives.
Warming temperatures can melt the ice caps leading
to sea level rise and coastal flooding
 Climate Change and Water

Increased Increased
evaporation rainfall

Climate change Flood

Increasing global
temperature
Melting of Sea level
ice caps rise
Human-induced
greenhouse
gases
 Climate change and impact on health
Climate change Environmental changes

Excessive Drought Heatwave

Flood
Rainfall

Stagnant water Water pollution Water scarcity Air pollution

Health and safety

Diarrhoea, cholera, malaria Dehydration, Heat stress

dengue, leptospirosis scabies

Drowning Respiratory
Malnutrition Mental health diseases
 Climate Change and Impact on
Health
WHO estimated that climate change is responsible for:
- 2.4% of diarrhea cases (worldwide)
- 6% of malaria cases (in some middle-income countries)
- 7% of dengue fever cases (in some industrialized countries)
in 2000

In total, climate change was estimated to be responsible

for 0.3% of deaths and 0.4% of disability adjusted
life years (World Health Report, 2002).

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 Temperature and rainfall vs. Diarrhoea
A Pacific Islands study:
3% increase in diarrhoea per
degree increase in temperature
2% increase in diarrhoea per unit
increase in rainfall above 5 105
kg/m2/min
8% increase in diarrhoea per unit
decrease in rainfall below 5 105
kg/m2/min
(Singh, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2001)
 Heat stress
Per 10 C increase above 200 C = 2.6 % increase
in overall mortality in children under 15 (Gouveia,
2003, Intl Journal of Epidemiology)
 A range of effective "adaptation" measures

Improved surveillance and response: E.g. heatwave warnings,

compliance with International Health Regulations to prevent
international spread of disease

Strengthened action on diseases of

poverty: Including wider coverage with
vector control and vaccination programmes
WHO/SEARO 2008

Better management of environmental health determinants :

Provision of safe water and sanitation, control of air pollution
 Conclusion
Climate change is happening and seriously affecting
water supply systems and health
Human activities are causing extra amount of
greenhouse gases
Adaptation and mitigations are strategies that should
be supported by policies to address the impact of
climate change on water and health
 More information:

World Health Organization

http://www.who.int/

Public Health and Environment

http://www.who.int/phe/en/

Global Environmental Change

http://www.who.int/globalchange/

Climate Change
http://www.who.int/globalchange/climate/
Thank you