Water-related impacts of climate change on agriculture and public health on Pakistan
Citation: Ahmed T, Scholz M, Al-Faraj F, et al. Water-related impacts of climate change on agriculture and subsequently on public health: A review for generalists with particular reference to Pakistan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2016;13(11):1051.
Language: Abstract and full text available in EN.
Free to view: Yes.
Funding sources: Nothing noted.
What is this? In this comprehensive literature review, the authors searched for studies on the water-related environmental and public health impacts of climate change in Pakistan. They searched in June 2016 for any type of article published from 1980 onwards.
What was found: Floods contaminate groundwater, erode soil, and increase water-borne and other infections. Approaches to mitigate water-related impacts on health in countries comparable to Pakistan involve national bodies and key stakeholders. They include lifestyle changes to reduce water scarcity.
Implications: The authors of the review suggested that greater awareness of the link between agriculture, public health, and the economy is needed by both the scientific community and general public. Furthermore, there was a need for adaptation and mitigation efforts, conservation, and risk management in response to climate change. The authors of the review stated that laws and policy measures should be improved.
Other considerations: The authors of the review discussed their findings in the context of country of residence, but not in the context of other issues relating to health equity.
This summary was written by Beirut Ibrahim, checked by Jawaria Karim and finalized by William Summerskilll.