1. The Health and Security Perspectives of Climate Change
Asked to o.utline the UK experience using Physician led retrieval teams on operations
The Health and Security Perspectives of Climate Change
Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis
Assistant Chief of Defence staff (Health) 1

2. Global Challenges Climate Change
Population, Migration & Demographic Change
Resource Scarcity
State & Interstate Conflict

3. Pillars of Human Security
Economic Development
Economic Stability
Personal Security
Political Security
Food Security
Community & Education
Health

4. Source – The Hadley Centre (Met Office)
Impact of Climate Change – 2040 and beyond
Reduced
ice/snow
cover
Melting permafrost
Melting glaciers
Increasing temperatures
Storm surges
Ocean
acidification
Changes
in extremes
Increased
droughts
This warming will not be uniform with some parts of the globe experiencing much higher temperatures. As we look out towards 2040 though all areas of the globe will be experiencing similar effects to a greater or lesser extent.
To give an example, modelling suggests that the temperatures experienced in Europe during the heatwave in Summer 2003, which killed 35,000 people (900 in London) and caused the closure of 17 nuclear power stations, will be an average day in Europe by 2040 and a cool day by 2060.
Changing
weather patterns
Sea level
rise
Increased precipitation
Source – The Hadley Centre (Met Office)
Source – The Hadley Centre (Met Office) 4

5. In terms of demography we will see an increase from 6
In terms of demography we will see an increase from 6.5 to almost 9bn people.
This population increase will be concentrated in the developing world who will constitute around 85% of the global population. Europe constituted 22% of the global population in 2050 but by 2040 it will be only 6%. Age differences will grow, the median age in Sub Saharan Africa will be around 24, whereas in Europe it will be around 47. Population increases will put demands on global resources supply, particularly as material expectations develop in areas of high population. 5

8. Urbanisation

9. Levels of Urbanisation - World
1900
1950
1990
2050
16%
30%
51%
60%

11. Public Health Consequences
Over-crowding
Poor Sanitation
Food Shortage
Water Shortage
Disease
Malnutrition

12. RESOURCE SHORTAGE
WATER
FOOD
FUEL

16. “Tipping Point Climate Change”