| Summary: | Changes in the Earth's climate over the past 100 years appear to be consistent with theoretical models of greenhouse warming, according to the participants in a recent scientific conference on Human Health and Global Climate Change, cosponsored by the National Science and Technology Council and the Institute of Medicine. The focus of concern to the conference participants was the substantial risks to human health, including both direct risks (e.g., death in heat waves or floods, skin cancer) and indirect risks (e.g., changes in food production or the distribution and incidence of vector-borne diseases) that are believed to be associated with changes in global climate. The general agreement that emerged during the conference was that changes in the global climate could pose significant risks to human health. The lack of complete data should not be used as an excuse for inaction, instead, the precautionary principle should apply: If the risk to public health is great, even if there is uncertainty, both policy and action should be biased in favor of precaution. Participants identified a number of actions that should be taken, including (a) the creation of a global surveillance and response network; (b) increased coordination among nations and scientific disciplines; (c) multidisciplinary research on the links between global climate change and human health; (d) improved environmental health training for health professionals; and (e) an outreach program to inform and educate the public about the effects of global climate change on human health. In the face of current fiscal constraints, these efforts must be based on identifying and linking together existing activities, facilities, organizations, and funding agencies
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