HOLDSTOCK-PIACHAUD PRIZE ESSAY Climate change-induced conflict: a threat to human health

摘要

Climate change presents a clear threat to the health of populations the world over, both directly and through its contribution to conflict in susceptible countries. If action is not taken to mitigate the possibility of conflict and other effects of climate change, the consequences are likely to be severe. There is much that can be done in order to mitigate these consequences and the health community can and should take a leading role in this. Health professionals must act both in their own countries, by lobbying governments and educating people concerning the public health consequences of these challenges, and in the countries most vulnerable to climate change and conflict. The work in these countries should consist of supporting the development of healthcare systems and material infrastructure, in order to increase the population's resilience and reduce their sensitivity to both conflict and climate change, as well as participating in the humanitarian response to the consequences of war and natural disaster. All of these interventions should be evidence based so far as possible, and organizations should seek every opportunity to expand and strengthen the evidence base for developmental and humanitarian interventions. Peace through health is a promising concept and has merit in seeking to take into account the effects of interventions on the conditions of peace and conflict. Questions of when, how and in what form interventions should take place in order to optimize outcomes require further research. Health professionals have a potentially invaluable role to play in these and other respects in tackling the combined challenges of climate change and the conflict potentially induced thereby.