Head of the Labor Health Center at the Ministry of Health in Iran, Jafar Jandaghi, has said that respiratory diseases are increasing due to climate change and this is expected to turn into the second-leading cause of death in the world.
According to reports, global warming, carbon dioxide emissions, sea level rise, floods, sand and dust storms, water scarcity, heavy rains and abrupt seasonal shifts are all effects of climate change. By 2030, there will be 2.6 watts of energy per square meter and by 2090, there will be 8.5 watts.
A report by WHO, Iran is amongst the most vulnerable countries to climate change due to its geographic, economic, and climatic characteristics. For instance, a large area of the country is susceptible to floods, while changing trends in precipitation have also led to droughts and forest fires.
In his reaction, Jandaghi said that regulations need to change because this condition will lead to an increase in diseases like cholera.
According to him, Improving the level of people’s knowledge about diseases, water, and food safety, using the power of non-governmental organizations, updating clinical guidelines, increasing awareness at the level of universities and society, and increasing the awareness of health workers will help curb the consequences of climate change.
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Jandaghi further explained that a national committee on climate change has been formed and two national programs are being implemented to curb the impacts of climate change in cooperation with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
“We must move towards reducing fossil energy consumption, producing clean energy, and developing technological agriculture to reduce water consumption,” he said.
Jaffar Hussain, the World Health Organization’s representative in Iran had said that the country’s studies on climate change is among the most trustworthy in the world.
Hussain said that “The Iranian government is working on a collaborative initiative about the effects of weather and climate change on health, which thankfully has made good progress so far, in collaboration with us and UNIDO. He also stated that the country has conducted quality studies in the field of environmental health and work based on the effects of the environment on health, which is considered one of the most reliable studies in the world.
Story was adapted from Tehran Times.
