Lecture 5: Anthropocene and Health Flashcards
what is anthropocene?
a period that highlights the detrimental impact humans have on earths geology and ecosystems
- it emphasises that humans and nature are interconnected
when does an anthropocene ‘rupture’ occur
when the planetary boundaries are crossed
e.g. increased global warming, climate change, ozone depletion, etc etc
- this then impacts human health e.g. malnutrition, infectious disease, mental health etc
what underlying causes accelerate damage to the environment?
- population growth
- urban populations
- water use
- paper production
- tourism
- transportation etc
what ecological drivers accelerate damage to the environment?
- carbon dioxide
- nitrous oxide
- methane
- ocean acidification
- tropical forest loss
- domesticated land etc
what athropogenic climate changes are attributed to human influence?
- increase in hot extremes
- ocean acidification
- global sea level rise
- glacier retreat
- increase in heavy precipitation
- increase in flooding
- increase in fire weather
- increase in agriculture and ecological drought
what are some extreme planetary events seen in 2023?
- highest global mean surface temperature
- antartica’s sea ice at record low
- Co2 concentrations increasing
- record breaking global temperatures
what is the impact of climate change on human health?
- climate change involves rising temperatures, more extreme weather, rising sea levels and increasing CO2 levels
- this results in increasing allergens, water wuality impacys, water and food supply issues, environmental degradation, extreme heat, severe weather, air pollution and changes in vestor ecology
what opportunities do we have for slowing global warming?
every increment of gloval warming intensifies several hazards
= so if we make significant changes to greenhouse gas emissions, global warming can slow down and atmospheric composition can be altered
what is the issue with climate change opportunities?
- the more time that goes on, the less opportunity the world has to enable climate resisleint development
- but multiple interacting choices can make a shift toward sustainable development
- e.g. inclusive government, multisectoral cooperation, indigenous perspectives, behavour change, policy, infrastructure,
what are some internationl and aotearoa sources of climate pollution that can be changed?
international:
- agriculture, electricity, industry and transport
new zealand:
- agriculture is dominant, transport, electricity and industry
what are some pros about mitigating actions for climate change?
they have cobenefits!!!
e.g. low carbon, active transport, energy efficient housing, plant-based diets, low-carbon generations all have significant co-benefits.
- for every climate action, there are health and equity benefits and harms
what is the paris agreement?
- an international treaty within the united nations framework convention on climate change aimed at addressing climate change
- aims to limit global warming, adapt to climate change, avoid mortality, morbidity and injury associated with climate change
- it yeilds health co-benefits
- it predicts to avoid millions of deaths, and more deaths can be avoided by additionally meeting the SDGs
- its deemed important as it represents a global commitment to combat the urgent threat of climate change, which has profound implications for the environment, health, economies and survival of future generations
which SDG is relevent for climate change?
- SDG13: Climate action
- aims to strengthem resilience and adaptation, integrate climate change measures into policies, improve education and awareness
is there hope for climate change?
yes!
- more ppl aware that climate change is real, more international and national action, international goals, hard to ignore health co-benefits of climate change action, public health can cause transformative change
