The mean world of climate change - perspective of a

developing world physician

P Ramesh Menon, MD

Corresponding author
P Ramesh Menon, MD
Senior Lecturer
Department of Pediatrics
TD Medical College
Alappuzha
Kerala- 6880005
(rpmpgi@gmail.com)

Keywords: Climate change, perspective, developing world

Word count :1423
Funding : none

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Abstract: The Prime Minister's release of India’s national action plan on climate change on
June 30th is an assertion that India can grow differently, because “it is in an early stage of
development”. As doctors, our field of care must broaden to ensure that today's children who
would inherit the burden of our actions today and bequeath it to tomorrow’s children, are well
prepared. Many of the most important diseases in poor countries, such as diarrhoea and
malnutrition, are highly sensitive to climate. Countries with coastlines along the Indian and
Pacific Oceans and sub-Saharan Africa are projected to suffer a disproportionate share of the
extra health burden. an organized effort by pediatricians world over, to create awareness and
initiate affirmative action for better health in changing climes for children of today and
tomorrow should be an overriding issue. Using point of contact for health care delivery to
discuss with parents on dangers of global warming, creating a contributory corpus for
research on better understanding of health issues of environmental warming may be initial
steps.
Key words: Climate change, perspective, developing world

Introduction
The Prime Minister's release of India’s national action plan on climate change on June 30th is
an assertion that India can grow differently, because “it is in an early stage of development”.
In other words, it can leapfrog to a low carbon economy, using high-end and emerging
technologies and by being different. Also, it prioritizes national action by setting out eight
missions—ranging from solar to climate research—which will be monitored by a council for
climate change. Yet, the plan is weak on how India sees the rest of the world in this
extraordinary crisis and how the world sees India in its effort at eco friendly sustainable
development. Climate change is a global challenge. We did not create it and, till date, we
contribute little to global emissions. We are, in fact, climate-victims (1). The stage is now set
for the last act of this deadly climate-play. As doctors, our field of care must broaden to
ensure that today's children who would inherit the burden of our actions today and bequeath it
to tomorrow’s children, are well prepared.
How prepared are we ?
Global warming is likely to lead to an increase in the number of infectious diseases and
respiratory illnesses. (2) It will also lead to higher incidences of weather extremes, such as
high temperatures, floods and drought.and reduce the availability of clean drinking water to
millions of people especially in the developing countries of the world (3).By 2030, the
number of climate-related diseases is likely to more than double, with a dramatic increase in
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heat-related deaths caused by heart failure, respiratory disorders, the spread of infectious
diseases and malnutrition from crop failures. According to a WHO report(4)”Many of the
most important diseases in poor countries, such as diarrhoea and malnutrition, are highly
sensitive to climate. The health sector is already struggling to control these diseases and
climate change threatens to undermine these efforts." In the report, countries with coastlines
along the Indian and Pacific Oceans and sub-Saharan Africa are projected to suffer a
disproportionate share of the extra health burden. Parts of China and India, where vast
population centres rely on melting ice from the Himalayas for their supply of drinking water,
are highly vulnerable to global warming.
Treating climate-related ills will require preparation, and early-warning systems. forecasting
extreme weather can help to reduce casualties and curtail the spread of disease. Climate
change can contribute to such diseases as diarrhea, malaria and infectious illnesses in a
number of ways.(5,6) In warmer temperatures, for example, the parasite that spreads malaria
via mosquitoes develops more quickly(7).A 2000 study conducted in Peru(8) found that when
the periodic El Nio phenomenon boosted temperatures there, hospital admissions of children
with diarrhea increased exponentially.
Geo -political background: At the G 8 summit in Germany last year, leaders of the rich world
agreed to “seriously consider a goal to halve world greenhouse gas emissions by 2050”.In all
this, the US has fast-tracked its own climate attack. It had already scored a coup, bringing all
major emitters—China and India included—into one group, so blurring, indeed removing, the
difference between rich countries legally required to take action, and others. The US ends up
protecting itself, for the targets for action are set not for the interim (2020), but for 2050.
Long enough for it to agree to do nothing increase its emissions and grow. This amounts to
“Climate-murder”. (9, 10) But who cares?
Japan and the US (and all rich countries) have proposed a change in the base-year from when
emissions will be measured. Currently, rich countries have to reduce over what they emitted
in 1990. Since then, their emissions have increased: the US by 20 per cent; Japan by 7 per
cent; Australia by over 35 per cent. (11, 12)So, Japan has proposed the base year be ‘shifted’
to 2008 so that its growth is conveniently‘forgiven’. The G-8 met and agreed on 50 per cent
cuts by 2050, but did not set the baseline. They did not set interim targets, but did harp on the
fact that nothing could be done without China and India coming on board. G20 leaders also
met in Pittsburgh on Sept. 24-25, 2009 partly to discuss climate financing. They calculated
climate costs as the money needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions and also prepare for more
droughts and floods -- called "mitigation" and "adaptation" respectively. The World Bank's
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World Development Report published on Sept. 15 said: "The estimated $75 billion that could
be needed annually for adaptation in developing countries dwarfs the less than $1 billion a
year now available."
Right to Clean Air campaign
The explosive, haphazard, and thirsty growth of urban and rural India generates tonnes of
mostly untreated waste in its wake. A problem compounded by poor management,
inefficiencies and inequities of resources.(13) Pediatricians should shoulder the fight to
protect the environment for a better health of children of today and tomorrow. As champions
of children’s health, an organized effort by Pediatricians world over, to create awareness and
initiate affirmative action for better health in changing climes for children of today and
tomorrow should be an overriding issue.
What can v do?
For beginning IAP (Indian Academy of Pediatrics) and other medical associations can lead
the campaign in creating awareness by:
1) A special issue of Indian pediatrics and sequentially other national journals with articles on
impact of climate change on health of children and adults, including current experience: - this
would generate interest and meaningful discussion among academics as well as
practitioners.The basic facts of climate change, including the contribution to global warming
made by humans, have been widely accepted in the scientific community for a decade or
more. The last five years, in addition, have seen tremendous breakthroughs in climate science
so that the climate models projecting scenarios into the future increasingly agree. Moreover,
data from the earth’s surface and atmosphere indicate dramatic warming over the past 30
years, exactly as predicted by the models. The new paradigm of an abruptly changing
climate system has been well established by research over the last decade, but this new
thinking is little known and scarcely appreciated by the wider community of natural and
social scientists and policy makers– National Academy of Sciences/National Research
Council 2002. (11, 12)
2) Using point of contact for health care delivery to discuss with parents regarding potential
impact on health of climate change. Antenatal clinics, Immunisation clinics, Well baby
clinics, School health services are a few situations (overburdened as they are in developing
country like ours, they provide a good attentive and responsive cohort) where doctors can
effectively create an awareness about"future” effects of climate change.
3) Create a contributory corpus (Rs.1 per new doctor registering with MCI/Rs5 for every

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additional degree registration/ contributions from CMEs organised by national organisations
and professional bodies) for funding relevant research into environmental impact on diseases
in developing societies
4) Organise awareness camps, nation wide CME on a doctor’s role in managing climate
change and on global climate change and its health impact: - it would be timely and relevant
to consider whether as health care professionals we can afford to remain complacent to the
issue of global warming and climate change and its "potential" significant impact on all areas
of health care practices.
5) CLIMATE FUNDS already on table:
a. Germany -- About 120 million euros per year in climate funds for developing countries
from selling pollution permits to industry
b. Global adaptation fund -- Raised from a 2 percent levy on the global carbon market.
Valued at just 83 million euros .
c. World Bank's climate investment funds for developing nations -- Over $6.1 billion from
rich countries
d. Norway funds to slow deforestation -- Up to 3 billion crowns ($510 million) a year to
combat deforestation. Committed 700 million ($119 million) to an Amazon fund

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (14,15), global mean

temperatures could increase by 1.5 to 5.8 °C by the end of the next century in response to this
additional radiative forcing. While this may appear to be a minor warming when compared to
diurnal or seasonal amplitudes of the temperature cycle, it should be emphasised that this is a
warming unprecedented in the last 10000 years. It is time for a motivated implementation of
on-the ground adaptation strategies and policy initiatives immediately. In all these activities
we would be showing the world the way. A concerted effort by a population of billion plus
can achieve significant credits in a low carbon economy besides an Olympic gold.

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