Climate change is a serious ongoing problem for mankind. The 4th International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in 2007 stated “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal”, and “observational evidence from all continents…that many natural systems are affected by regional climate change”. Global warming affects hydrological and terrestrial biological systems including alteration in rainfall, air pollutants, bird migration, arthropod species, plants, and so forth.

Climate change brings a lot of impacts on human health, through direct exposures such as the extreme heat and cold waves or indirect exposures such as change in water, air quality, vector ecology, agriculture, etc. In August 2003, a heat wave in France caused more than 14,800 deaths. Extreme cold temperature in Europe from December 2009 to January 2010 caused about 100 deaths. Children in low-income countries suffered from increased diarrheal diseases which were found to be associated with high temperature (Checkley et al., 2004; Singh et al., 2001). Vector-borne diseases such as Dengue fever, malaria are influenced by climate change. In the fact sheets in January 2010, WHO also states ”climate change affect the fundamental requirement for health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter”.

Environment related mortality stems from a multitude of factors - including unsafe water, air pollution, waste disposal, toxic substances and so forth. The health care sector plays a major part in global environment, and thus we, as health professionals, can make a real change for the better. Hospitals are among the most intensive energy-consuming buildings and byproducts of health care industries include toxins, hazardous substances, polluted water, massive amounts of waste etc.

 

The International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services (HPH) focuses on actively promoting the health of patients, staff, communities and environment – wherever possible and however possible. Doing so naturally entails harnessing the tremendous positive potential inherent in furthering a more environmentally friendly health care sector globally. In light of the critical need for further development, documentation and dissemination of evidence-based environmental activities and initiatives in hospital and health service settings, the Task Force on HPH and Environment has been established.