Public health round-up

The World Health Organization (WHO) invited health professionals and others to sign up to a call to action on climate change and health that will be presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. The aim is to send a clear message to the Paris summit that health should be at the heart of the climate negotiations. Anyone can sign up and join the call to action which makes three key demands. One, strong and effective action to limit climate change, and avoid unacceptable risks to global health. Two, scaling up of financing for adaptation to climate change: including public health measures to reduce the risks from extreme weather events, infectious disease, diminishing water supplies and food insecurity. Three, actions that both reduce climate change and improve health, including reducing the number of deaths from cancer, respiratory and cardiovas-cular diseases that are caused by air pollution (currently over 7 million a year). The first 10 in a series of climate and health profiles of WHO Member States will be released this month. The profiles, produced in collaboration with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, can be used by policy-makers to prevent some of the adverse effects of climate change on the health of their populations. Additional profiles will be released ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, France, from 30 November until 11 December. The profiles provide extensive scientific data that can be used as a baseline for tracking progress on countries' adaptation and mitigation policies. Adaption policies involve anticipating the adverse health effects of climate change and preventing these in the future. For example, establishing early warning systems for outbreaks of climate-sensitive infectious diseases. Mitigation policies aim to reduce the negative health effects of climate change, for example, levying road traffic congestion charges to reduce air pollution. In addition, some mitigation policies seek further health benefits. For example, encouraging people to cycle rather than drive their cars to work reduces carbon emissions, makes the air cleaner and people healthier. The profiles are accompanied by an overview report on the consequences of addressing the adverse health effects of global warming, and of failing to do so. Longer not always healthier life Life expectancy is rising steadily across WHO's 53-country European Region but levels of alcohol consumption, tobacco use as well as overweight and obesity – among major risk factors for premature mortality – …