We have known about the perils of climate change for more than two decades. But global efforts to slow it down by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions have largely failed. Even if we could stop producing greenhouse gases tomorrow, the high concentration of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere will cause the climate to continue to change. As a result we must not only intensify our efforts to reduce climate change but start preparing for its inevitable effects.

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The effects of climate change have been and will be worse in poor countries and small-island states, those least able to adapt to the climate-related disasters.

Related work available for download:

Quantifying Vulnerability to Climate Change: Implications for Adaptation Assistance - Working Paper 240

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Dataset: Vulnerability to Climate Change

Climate change will have an effect on human, animal and plant health. Although it is not creating new or unknown health threats, it will amplify some environment-related health issues. Most public health measures and systems are already in place but they need to be modified in order to deal with new situations and threats.

The EU Health Strategy [PDF] for 2008-2013 identifies the protection of people from health threats due to climate change as a priority.

This training manual is designed to accompany a workshop for city health officials on the health impacts of climate change. It is based on the book: Climate Change and Human Health: Risks and Responses (Editors: McMichael, Campbell-Lendrum, Corvalan, Ebi, Githeko,Scheraga, Woodward WHO/WMO/UNEP 2003). Manual includes 11 sessions and accompanying worksheets. The goal of this training program is to help city health practioners develop action plans at the city level to address climate change.

Implementing Instructions for Agency Climate Change Adaptation Planning

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) are working in partnership to further Federal sustainability targets and other management goals.  This includes ensuring that Federal agencies are planning so they can address the impacts of climate change on their operations and assets.

Resource Attachment: 

ADAPTATION FINAL IMPLEMENTING INSTRUCTIONS 3_3.pdf