April 20, 2016
Health impacts of climate on Maori underplayed
Te Ora Taiao, the New Zealand Climate and Health Council, says the Royal Society's climate risks report overlooks the real health risks to New Zealanders from climate change.
Chair Rhys Jones says the Society has done valuable work identifying risks to coastal margins, river flooding, freshwater availability, ocean chemistry change, ecosystems threats, and flow-on effects from global climate changes and responses.
But he says overseas bodies have also identified climate change as not just a global medical emergency but also an unprecedented opportunity for health gains if the right responses are made.
He says the report does recognise the impact on specific groups, and that applies to health as well.
"Those things are going to impact differently on different groups of people and particularly as Maori, having already some of the worst health outcomes in New Zealand, we stand to be affected much more than other groups because of where we live, socioeconomic conditions, cultural practices, and things like that," Dr Jones says.
He says iwi need to play a greater role in identifying the risks to their people and pushing for action.
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