more difficult to quantify, but with an increasingly ageing population, even a small increased risk would be worth mitigating because of its burden on human health.
Climate change is intensifying the spread and impact of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through multiple interconnected pathways. The recent UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan on Nov 11–22, served as an opportunity to highlight these connections and call for integrated strategies to address both the root causes and immediate health impacts of NTDs in the context of climate change. However, the absence of a dedicated focus on NTDs remains a critical gap that must be addressed moving forward. A US$300 billion a year climate finance deal was struck at the conference, which will hopefully contribute to leveraging climate finance for health outcomes.
With only 25 years to go until we reach the 2050 Conference of the Parties goal of net-zero emissions, there is much work to be done to achieve this goal. Beyond the environmental impact on haematological diseases, there is also the environmental impact of haematology care. Work can be done to reduce the single-use plastics used in routine pathology testing. Life cycle assessments can be used to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions of various haematological procedures, such as blood transfusions. There will be many benefits to human health from policies that can mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce carbon emissions, and those of us in the field of haematology must do our part to contribute. Adapting health systems to address climate change is critical and necessary, and health-centred responses will be needed to secure a future in which world populations can thrive
No comments:
Post a Comment