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Environmental News - Reducing greenhouse emissions could cut global disease burden by 25% says WHO

Curbing global greenhouse gas emissions could help reduce global disease by as much as 25 per cent, says The World Health Organisation at a recent preliminary climate change conference in Copenhagen. Speaking at Climate Change Global Risks, Challenges, and Decisions, WHO has been looking to increase awareness of the co-benefits for health brought by reductions in greenhouse gases in all sectors, such as transport, housing, energy, and agriculture, and at all levels.

"Health had no say in the policies that led to the financial crisis or made climate change inevitable. But the health sector will bear the brunt of the consequences," says Dr Margaret Chan, Executive Director of WHO. For example, short term fluctuation in weather can cause acute health effects, especially to individuals in less developed areas. Meanwhile, torrential climate conditions that cause flooding and other natural disasters can also result in poorer health conditions.

Meanwhile, Dr Martin Cope from the CSIRO addressed the GREENHOSE 2009 conference with similar revlations. "We have modelled climate and ozone pollution for Sydney for a 2050-2060 climate change scenario and found that the number of hospital admissions due to ozone pollution is predicted to increase by up to three times the current rate," he said.

The WHO already estimates that climate change may be causing over 150,000 premature deaths worldwide each year.WHO representatives called for greater global awareness of the health benefits from the reductions in greenhouse gases. Health policy makers must factor climate change into their activities to cut the burden of global disease.

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