Key facts
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Climate change affects the social and environmental determinants of health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter.
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Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress.
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The direct damage costs to health (i.e. excluding costs in health-determining sectors such as agriculture and water and sanitation), is estimated to be between US$ 2-4 billion/year by 2030.
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Areas with weak health infrastructure – mostly in developing countries – will be the least able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond.
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Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases through better transport, food and energy-use choices can result in improved health, particularly through reduced air pollution.