Climate change impacts on quality of human life

Abstract

 Global climate change affecting patterns of human health and quality of life in general poses a central challenge to scientists and policymakers. Impacts of climate change on human health will depend on the type, intensity, frequency and distribution of the climatic hazards and on the social vulnerability of the population. There is increasing evidence on the pathways on how climate variability and change affect health. Quality of life is directly tied to regional increases in climate extremes (storms, floods, cyclones) which will cause physical damage, population displacement, and adverse effects on food production, freshwater availability and adverse health effects such as deaths, cardio vascular and respiratory morbidity and infectious or food borne disease outbreaks. Women tend to be more vulnerable and marginalized. Heat-waves cause significant mortality in the aging populations as has been shown in the European heat-wave in 2003. Increased concentrations of carbon dioxide and increases in temperature are projected to increase the growth rate of allergen-producing plants and the length of the pollen season. Climate change may also affect demographic shifts, socio-economic development, tourism and health services infrastructure. There are areas where the impacts might be higher: urban areas, coastal and low lying areas and mountainous areas.