KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 — Climate change poses a significant threat to the health of Malaysians and other countries in Asia, according to a report.
The report, ‘The Imperative of Climate Action to Promote and Protect Health in Asia’ by the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA), highlighted insufficient awareness of how climate change affects health.
It said in a statement yesterday that climate change would weaken the immune system and that children would be more susceptible to recurring infections, allergies and the development of autoimmune diseases as well as cancer.
“Asia and Oceania, which experiences a full range of global climate variations, has been identified as one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change,” it said.
The report findings were shared at a webinar organised by AASSA and hosted by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, a unit under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Among the recommendations highlighted were political will by governments to transform societies and for decision-makers to focus on protecting human health against the high-level impacts of climate change.
“While providing solutions to the harmful effects of climate change on health, authorities should also produce solutions covering global health risks and all segments of society,” it said.
— Bernama
