Why hotter Earth poses greater health risks to Hong Kong than other cities around the globe
- Global Heat Health Information Network holds inaugural forum in Hong Kong
- World cannot ‘afford a business-as-usual approach to solving problem’ expert says
Hong Kong should expect a greater burden on health care services as days and nights of extreme heat become more intense, frequent and prolonged against the backdrop of a changing climate and demographics, experts warn.
The grim state of play was illustrated by climate, weather, medical and planning specialists in the city at the first ever forum held by the Global Heat Health Information Network on Monday, focused on the “silent emergency” a hotter Earth posed to public health.
“Temperatures are not only increasing; the speed at which they are going up is also increasing,” said Joy Shumake-Guillemot, head of the World Health Organisation and World Meteorological Organisation’s joint climate and health office.
“We cannot afford a business-as-usual approach to solving this problem.”
Spearheaded by the United Nations’ WHO and WMO, and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the network aims to scale up efforts to manage the complex human health risks introduced by extreme and increasing ambient heat. It launched in 2016.