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　　WASHINGTON— The impact of climate change is sogreat that it could undermine the last 50 years ofgains in global health, according to the LancetCommission report.

　　Weather extremes made worse by climate changeare potentially catastrophic and unacceptable, says Commission's project leader NicolasWatts, who spoke to VOA via Skype.

　　“In terms of drought, we often see corresponding decreases in agricultural productivity, whichthen in turn has a profound impact on malnutrition, particularly for children, and floods weoften see a rise in the rates of infectious diseases, cholera and diarrheal diseases that happenas a result of a breakdown in sanitation.”

　　Increasingly, it’s just hotter, which can be deadly. An extreme heatwave in 2003 left 70,000people dead across Europe. "And those sorts of events are expected to increase in intensityand severity as time goes on."

　　Reducing emissions improves health

　　The World Health Organization warns that unless dramatic action is taken to reduce globalwarming emissions by 2030, approximately 250,000 people will die each year from the effectsof climate change.

　　Outdoor air pollution is linked to some three million deaths worldwide, 1.2 million in Chinaalone. Watts says a shift from coal-fired power plants to renewable energy can greatly reducethat danger.

　　“We see immediate declines in hospital admissions and in health care costs, which reduces theburden of already struggling health budgets. But there are also benefits to be found outside ofthe energy sector, you can decrease the amount the reliance on cars and motor vehicles, andtry to encourage active transport like cycling and walking, you reduce the carbon emissionfrom that sector, but you also decrease the rates of diabetes and obesity.” he said.

　　Politics aside, global climate treaty is about public health

　　Among its recommendations, the Commission supports a phase-out of coal power plants,expansion of renewable energy, investment in health systems and a commitment to a strongglobal climate treaty. Watts says public health is at he core of a new global aggrement.

　　"Most of what you want to do to respond to climate change is good for public health, and it isactually a much brighter future.”

　　Watts says health care professionals can be advocates in the battle against climate change, hesays what is good for the planet is good for patient care.