EEE会議（地球温暖化の人体への影響：ＷＨＯ報告）.......................................................031217


最近イタリアのミラノで開催された第９回地球温暖化防止国際会議（ＣＯＰ９）
では、京都議定書の早期発効を目指すＥＵ等とこれを葬り去ろうとする米国
の間で激しい綱引きがあったようです。　ブッシュ政権は、温暖化の人体への
影響すら認めない立場ですが、これに対抗して、国連の世界保健機構（ＷＨＯ）
が反論のレポート（１２月１１日付け）を提出しました。「気候変動と人間の健康：
リスクと対応」と題するこの報告書によると、世界中の下痢の２．４％、マラリア
の２％が気候変動（温暖化）が原因で、２０００年にはこれで１５万の死者が出た、
またヨーロッパでは今夏の酷暑で２万人が死亡したということです。　
詳細は以下のとおりです。　ご参考まで。
--KK

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Subject:  U.N. Issues Study on Health Impacts of Climate Change
(Report released at climate change conference in Milan) (920)

A new report from the United Nations says there is growing evidence that
changes in the global climate will have profound effects on the health and
well-being of citizens in countries throughout the world.

A December 11 press release issued by the World Health Organization (WHO)
says the study, entitled "Climate Change and Human Health -- Risks and
Responses," examines how weather, air pollution, and water and food
contamination affect the way diseases emerge, and suggests effective means
for countries to monitor and control the health effects of climate change.

WHO together with other international organization, with the support of
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, launched the study at the
just-concluded Ninth Session of the Conference of Parties to the U.N.
Framework Convention on Climate Change in Milan, Italy.

The study reports that climate change is responsible for 2.4 percent of
all cases of diarrhea worldwide and for 2 percent of all cases of malaria.
It says an estimated 150,000 deaths were caused by climate change in 2000.

"Until now, most of the work being done on climate change was intended to
bring results in 10, 20 or 50 years' time. But we need to institute
actions which will protect people's lives now," said Dr. Kerstin Leitner,
WHO assistant director-general for sustainable development and healthy
environments, following release of the report.

The study says an estimated 20,000 people died in Europe this past summer
due to extremely hot temperatures. It says rain can also have a major
impact on health. When rainfall rises above normal levels, it can collect
and stagnate, and the still water provides additional breeding grounds for
mosquitoes and other vectors, which transmit diseases such as malaria and
dengue fever.

A summary of the entire report can be found at the following Web site:
http://www.who.int/globalchange/publications/cchhsummary/en/

Along with the study, WHO and its partners released practical guidelines
designed to help governments monitor and assess the impact of climate
change and take action to prevent those effects.

Following is the text of the press release:

(begin text)

World Health Organization
December 11, 2003

New book demonstrates how climate change impacts on health

GENEVA -- The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are launching a
major new study of the health impacts of climate change. The study
examines, for example, how weather, air pollution, and water and food
contamination affect the way diseases emerge. It further suggests
effective means for all countries to monitor and control the health
effects of climate change.

WHO and partners are also launching practical guidelines designed to help
governments and other organizations monitor and assess the impact of
climate change and take action to prevent those effects.

Climate change is responsible for 2.4 percent of all cases of diarrhoea
worldwide and for 2 percent of all cases of malaria, according to the most
recent figures available. Moreover, an estimated 150,000 deaths and 5.5
million Disability-Adjusted Life Years were caused in the year 2000 due to
climate change.

"There is growing evidence that changes in the global climate will have
profound effects on the health and well-being of citizens in countries
throughout the world. We must better understand the potential health
effects particularly for those who are most vulnerable, so that we can
better manage the risks," said Dr Kerstin Leitner, WHO Assistant
Director-General for Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments.

"Until now, most of the work being done on climate change was intended to
bring results in 10, 20 or 50 years' time. But we need to institute
actions which will protect people's lives now," Dr Leitner added.

Today, the study "Climate Change and Human Health -- Risks and Responses"
is being launched at the 9th Session of the Conference of the Parties to
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Milan, Italy.
WHO authored the book together with the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the
support of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In addition, the European Regional Office of the World Health Organization
together with Health Canada, and with the support of UNEP and WMO, are
launching the Guidelines entitled "Methods of Assessing Human Health
Vulnerability and Public Health Adaptation to Climate Change".

The 1990s were the hottest decade on record and the upward trend in the
world's temperature continues. In Europe this past summer for example, an
estimated 20,000 people died due to extremely hot temperatures.

Rain can also have a major impact on health. When rainfall rises above
normal levels, it can collect and stagnate, and the still water provides
additional breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other vectors, which
transmit diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

The book, launched today, describes the context and process of global
climate change, its actual or likely impacts on health, and how human
societies and their governments should respond, with particular focus on
the health sector. Overall, scientists note, most of the health impacts of
climate change would be adverse.

The Guidelines complement the book, providing practical information to
governments, health agencies and environmental and meteorological
institutions in both industrialized and developing countries on how to
assess vulnerability and adaptation to climate variability and change at
the regional, national and local levels. Flexible methods and tools are
described to achieve better understanding of the current and future
vulnerability of specific populations.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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