Experts call for early warning system as climate change threatens health

Experts called for urgent need for early warning systems as climate change presents growing health challenges.

Yuan Jiashuang, deputy director of the National Climate Center, said on Friday at the Second Climate Change and Health Forum co-organized by the center and the Tsinghua University's Vanke School of Public Health that China's early warning system for disaster risk reduction has been improved in recent years as the country has built a comprehensive meteorological observation system.

This system enables rapid tracking and precise positioning of meteorological disasters, Yuan said.

With the intensifying global warming, extreme weather events are presenting increasingly severe impacts on human health. It is estimated that by 2050, around 350 million people globally will face life-threatening heatstroke. About 300 million individuals will be affected by allergies caused by pollen and other airborne allergens, while the risk of mosquito-borne infectious diseases will also increase, she said.

Early warning can aid tackle health issues caused by the climate change, she added.

At the forum, Jiang Zhaoli, deputy head of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment's climate change department, highlighted the effects of climate change on various infectious diseases and mental health.

He proposed measures to enhance monitoring, early warning, disease prevention and control planning and emergency healthcare capabilities.

Departments should improve data sharing and coordination, integrate new technologies and strengthen risks prevention for climate-sensitive diseases, he said.