Many of the biggest health concerns from climate change "boil down to maternal and child health issues", said Ebi, who has helped countries plan how to adapt to climate-linked health threats from Africa and Asia to the Pacific and Central America. Health issues can feed on each other too, she said, with hunger increasing vulnerability to malaria and more frequent diarrhoea exacerbating malnourishment. Globally, less than 0.5% of international climate finance goes to efforts to address climate-related health concerns, the journal article noted. The US National Institutes of Health, for instance, spends under 1% of its research budget on climate issues, Ebi said. Such limited funding means measures that could help stem worsening health risks - from better early warning systems to mental health support for those who suffer catastrophic losses - are not being put in place fast enough.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 21, 2020 10:52 UTC