December 08, 2015
Island states warn of climate damage
A New Zealand doctor observing the Paris Climate summit says the big emitting nations still aren’t listening to those countries already feeling the impact of global warming.
Alex Macmillan from OraTaiao: The NZ Climate and Health Council, says hundreds of health professionals are at the summit calling for health impacts to be included in the final document.
There are now just two mentions of health in the 900 points for considerations, and they could drop out once the horse trading between climate ministers gets going in earnest.
She’s also been hearing the perspectives of indigenous peoples and small island states on the fringes of the hui, including powerful presentations from the health ministers of Tuvalu and Fiji.
"They’re really on the front line seeing those health impacts on a day to day basis: things like their water being turned salty by rising sea levels, losing their homes, losing their ability to grow food because their soils are also becoming salty because of sea level rise, and therefore (causing) undernutrition," Dr Macmillan says.
Small island states are also having to deal with increasing frequency of emergencies, which affect public health.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com