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HEALTH PROMOTION AND PLANETARY HEALTH: ADDRESSING ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN PAKISTAN

Mirza Jawad Ghazanfar Baig, Aisha Ahmed, Gurpreet Singh Aujla*

Planetary health is a new concept that essentially means that human, environmental and animal health are interdependent rather than independent and are interrelated to each other and health of one is dependent upon the other. “Climate change is real” [1], and this change in climate around us is depicted by increased temperatures, changing sea levels. The concept of climate change is not a substance of scientific assumption anymore and is becoming a ground fact. The impact of climate change on human health is not identical around the world but varies depending upon geographical location, environmental condition and the level of economy. Countries in low income groups are expected to suffer more than others in terms of the adverse effects of the climate change on health. Pakistan is a low socio-economic country and is highly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change. Health promotion can play a vital role in addressing the health effects of the changing climate in many ways. Health promotion practitioners can not only help the population to adept the climate change but also to mitigate these effects and these measures will contribute in a decrease of the greenhouse gas emission and will also aid to reduce the harmful health effects of climate change. Health promotion practitioners can utilize the action areas of the Ottawa Charter for health promotion to effectively address the health impacts of climate change to advise the policy makers, strengthen the community actions and also develop personal skills so that the adverse health effects can be minimized and rectified. Key Words: Planetary, Climatic, Vulnerability

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