Climate Change and Health: A Lens to Refocus on the Needs of the Poor

Adaptation strategies to deal effectively with the anticipated health impacts of climate change are in the early stages of development. It is therefore vital that careful consideration is given to the policy options available to ensure that policy responses are evidence based, ethical and use scarce resources efficiently. Climate change is expected to be ecologically and socially transforming. It is likely to increase the burdens of existing diseases by exposing new populations to vector-borne diseases, intensifying health stresses from extreme temperatures and impaired agricultural productivity, and exacerbating existing health inequalities.