Climate change could kill thousands in UK by 2012

[Sweetpea]

Climate change could lead to a heatwave in the south-east of England killing 3,000 people within the next decade, a Department of Health report said today.

It put the chances of a heatwave of that severity happening by 2017 at 25%.

Without preventative action, the report said that a nine-day heatwave, with temperatures at 27 degrees, would cause 3,000 immediate deaths, with another 3,350 people dying from heat-related conditions during the summer.

It predicted that there would be an increase in skin cancers due to increased exposure to sunlight and that, over the next half century, air pollution could lead to an extra 1,500 deaths and hospital admissions a year.

While malaria outbreaks were likely to remain rare, the report – Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK 2008 – said health authorities would need to be alert to the dangers posed by possible larger outbreaks of malaria in continental Europe.

The report, a follow-up to a study first published in 2002, said the latest modelling now suggested that temperatures would rise by between 2.5 and 3 degrees centigrade over the next century. Periods of very cold weather would become less common, but heatwaves would become more common.

It pointed out that the heatwave in France in 2003, which contributed to more than 14,000 premature deaths, had been attributed by climatologists, in part, to the influence of human behaviour on the climate,

"The air pollution climate of the UK will continue to change," the report went on.

"Though concentrations of a number of important pollutants are likely to decline over the next half-century, the concentration of ozone is likely to increase. This will increase attributable deaths and hospital admissions.

"The increases are likely to be significant: with the least constraining assumptions … up to about 1,500 extra deaths and hospital admissions per annum might be expected."

The report also said that new studies had confirmed the effects of increased exposure to ultra-violet light. "Skin cancers are expected to increase."

On malaria, the report said there was a very slight chance that the disease could return to the south of England during the next 50 to 100 years. But outbreaks were likely to be rare and to involve a small number of people.

However, health authorities would have to be on the alert for the emergence of new, more deadly strains of mosquitoes in Europe and the possibility that they could arrive in wetland areas of Britain.

Warmer summers would also lead to an increase in food poisoning. The report predicted that there would be up to 14,000 more cases of food poisoning, including salmonella, a year – an increase of 14.5%.

Tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease were also likely to become more common, but that was more likely to be due to changes in land use than climate change.

Professor Robert Maynard, chairman of the expert panel that wrote the report, said: "Climate change is likely to be one of the major challenges that humanity faces this century. It is important that we assess the possible health impact and take any actions that could minimise the consequences."

Climate change could kill thousands in UK by 2012, says report | Politics | guardian.co.uk


This I believe is very worrying. We live in the South East and we have already seen temperatures of 35 degree's. As one who cannot abide the heat, I just hope my AC can cope.

[easyg]

Sweets
We are now in a position that we just cannot reverse. We have gone to far, we have precious little energy alternatives. Oil has reached its levels of maximum production. It is a downward spiral from now on.
The only possible small salvation, is solar energy. Nuclear is to dirty and unsafe. Forget wind and wave power, they are never going to produce, at this moment, the amount of renewable energy that we need to sustain us at present levels.
We are at the mercy of mother nature, we have taken, taken, and taken,
but have given nothing in return. She will exact revenge
Carbon footprint, bullshit, bullshit.

[Sweetpea]

Can't really fault your post. I too think it's too late. You cannot exact the kind of damage we have and not expect payback.

Nuclear would be ideal, if it weren't for 'the human factor'.

[poppy]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Can't really fault your post. I too think it's too late. You cannot exact the kind of damage we have and not expect payback.

Nuclear would be ideal, if it weren't for 'the human factor'.

I have to agree, I got tired of telling folk if you keep kicking nature it will kick you back in the end.
the planet wouldn't be in trouble in the first place if it weren't for the human factor Sweet.

[easyg]

Poppy,
Have had this conversation before on other forums.
Everything dies as you know. Should we save the tiger, elephants will become extinct, the human race will eventually become extinct. Is it right to save all these species? I know you will comeback with the question, should it be us humans who make these animals extinct, But who knows whether it is our mistakes to make the species extinct, or whether it is the way it is meant to be. After all, this planet cannot sustain all living beings at the same time.
We may at the moment, adhere to Darwin's theory of the strongest will survive.
I am certainly not in favour of wiping out animal species. But was/is it meant to be...............................

[poppy]

The thing is we have reason and we still destroy most of what we touch. I think we will go before other life forms, and I think cockroaches will inherit the earth.

[easyg]

Originally Posted by poppy

The thing is we have reason and we still destroy most of what we touch. I think we will go before other life forms, and I think cockroaches will inherit the earth.

Or Banks!!!!!! one and the same ha ha

[poppy]

Had to delete Poppy. These Smilies were clickable

[terrywit]

Originally Posted by poppy

I think cockroaches will inherit the earth.

better than the meek getting it........

[poppy]

Originally Posted by terrywit

better than the meek getting it........

never could understand why the bloody meek should get it. What about us mouthy gits.
The cockroach thing goes back to my 60s and 70s ban the bomb protests. Scientists have proved the only living thing that could survive a full on nuclear war, is the cockroach.twxx