Aanchal Nebhnani

October 5, 2007

As the earth warms, global warming and its wide-ranging effects on both the ecosystem and on humanity as a whole are widely discussed topics. A recent study by the Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that heat-related premature mortality rate is likely to increase by 2050. In Metropolitan New York, summer heat-related deaths have been on the rise since the 1990s. As average temperatures rise, the health of New Yorkers is becoming more susceptible to the unfavorable effects of warming. Especially at high risk are the urbanized and most densely populated counties in and around New York City. Additionally, heat-stress affects low-income segments of society where people live in multi-family rental buildings that do not have air-conditioning.

Undoubtedly, several residents who are exposed to the summer heat-stress become more susceptible to heat- related illnesses and early deaths. Senior citizens with cardio-vascular or respiratory illnesses are the most vulnerable to these effects. Statistics on morality and hospital admissions show that "death rates increases during extremely hot days particularly among the very old and very young people." Higher air temperatures result in a higher concentration of ozone at the ground level. Ozone, a harmful pollutant, causes lung diseases and is especially harmful to people suffering from asthma. While there has been a visible increase in warming in urban areas it will not be long before increases in mean daily temperatures penetrate the non-urban counties well beyond the limits of the five boroughs of New York City.

Although the study was limited to the effects of warming on New York City and its surrounding counties, it is apparent that rapid warming has resulted in premature deaths not only in these areas but has also penetrated in to other regions of the United States and every other region of the earth. To cite some examples, in July 1995 a heat wave killed more than 700 people in the Chicago area alone, and Europe witnessed thousands of deaths as a result of a 2003 heat wave. Furthermore, high rates of mortality as a result of climate change occur more frequently in poorer and non-industrialized countries. Perhaps, this is due to the lack of financial resources for air conditioning coupled with the absence of well-established public health networks.

It is apparent that human activity contributes towards changing temperatures. Visibly, increasing carbon dioxide pollution and greenhouse gases from power plants and automobiles are the chief causes of global warming. Although the Kyoto Protocol provides legally binding emissions targets, these are recognized to be inadequate. However, as Klaus Topfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment program says, "there are laws in place that can address this. For example, it is illegal under international law for one state to cause harm to another state. It is illegal under domestic law in many countries for polluters to cause nuisances to the public. If these and other laws are enforced now, and over the world, they can help combat climate change."

Furthermore, if a study conducted by the World Health Organization is any indication, then, it may be concluded that global climate change is directly related to increased rates of malaria, malnutrition and diarrhea, which, in turn, has resulted in several thousands of premature deaths each year. This trend is likely to continue unless concerted efforts are made by governments, the United Nations as well as the people to help contain global warming. Subsequently, this will reduce premature mortality due to soaring temperatures and periodic summer heat stress.

Sources:

Climate Change May Increase Heat Related Deaths by 2050's, Science Daily (Sept. 27, 2007), available at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070927164452.htm.

Anup Shah, Climate Change and Global Warming, http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming.asp (last visited Sept. 27, 2007).

Mike De Souza, Climate Change May Cause Health Woes Worldwide, UN Panel Says, THE VANCOUVER SUN (Mar. 30, 2007) available at http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=24763ba9-9c1a-4c08-b2b0-560c154becb2&rfp=dta.

Impact of Climate Change on Human Health, climates.org.

http://www.climate.org/topics/health/index.shtml (last visited Sept. 27, 2007).

Consequences of Global Warming, http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/fcons.asp (last visited Oct. 3, 2007).

Climate Justice: Enforcing Climate Change Law, http://www.climatelaw.org/ (last visited Oct. 3, 2007).