Climate restricts the range of infectious diseases, while weather affects the timing and intensity of outbreaks. The ranges of several key human diseases or their vectors are changing, along with shifts in plant communities and the retreat of alpine glaciers. In addition, extreme weather events often create conditions conducive to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Heavy rains can deposit insect breeding sites, drive rodents from burrows and contaminate clean water systems. Conversely, drought can spread fungal spores and spark fires. Sequences of extremes can destabilize predator/prey interactions, leading to population explosions of opportunistic, disease-carrying organisms.
Additionally, emerging infectious diseases are increasingly appearing in animals, plants and marine life. These “zoonoses” can affect animal populations, food supplies and “spill over” to humans. Appearances of such diseases as West Nile virus in urban settings pose environmental and ethical dilemmas, as we become “fearful of nature.”
The acceleration of climate change and of infectious diseases -- two global issues with the former reinforcing the latter -- gives added urgency to policies and incentives that can drive healthy, equitable and sustainable development; with the transition to clean energy sources, energy efficiency and smart growth providing the lever.
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