Nursing Concerns Related to Global Climate Change

NURSING CONCERNS RELATED TO GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
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Nursing Concerns Related to Global Climate Change
Global climate change is causing adverse effects in almost every country in the world. The increasing global temperature causes polar ice melting, flooding, and increases in disease pathogens that affect peoples’ lives. In the U.S., United Kingdom, and Kenya, these effects are felt and require health professionals to engage the public in combating these problems.
Effects of global climatic change in the United States
The effects of global climate change are evident in the United States in many areas. It has altered the water cycle, affecting the distribution of rainfall countrywide. In between the number of precipitation instances, are severe droughts, caused by change in rainfall patterns. This will cause precipitation and runoff to decrease in the South West in spring and summer while increase in Midwest and North East in winter and spring (U.S. Global change program, 2009). The patterns of surface runoffs are also changing with slow runoffs experienced in late summer. The global climate change has affected the quality of underground and surface water, causing increasing stress on the water systems. According to U.S. Global Change Program report of 2009, the increase in global temperature causes increasing evaporation from water bodies, causing the atmosphere to hold more moisture. This causes high instances of storms experienced northwards while the drier South West remains even drier.
Water is essential in the economy of the people of United States for running household activities, generation of hydroelectricity, farming, in industries, to generate steam in nuclear power plants and for recreational activities among others (U.S. Global change program, 2009). Reduced rainfall and altered precipitation patterns denies the population access to clean water and affects farming. Change in water cycle also causes rapid flooding in the low-lying regions and destruction to water and sewer lines. It also affects energy productions. The U.S. Global Change Program report of 2009 also shows that increase in global temperatures causes a surge in illnesses and death through heat waves and extreme heat. High temperature causes increase in mental and physical problems, with deterioration in air quality. High temperatures also cause increase in carbon dioxide in the air altering production of pollen in plants. Allergic pollen may cause health risks. Some disease vectors such as Nile Fever and insects such as mosquitoes increase with rapid rise in temperature, affecting the health of many.
Climate-related health concerns pose new challenges to the health sector; causes increase in medical costs and consequently destabilize the economy. If left uncontrolled, the rising temperature will cause increase in smog and reduction in air quality. This exposes the elderly people and those involved in outdoor activities to various health risks. The United States has taken several steps to combat these programs. Through the GlobalChange.gov (2014), the nation receives information concerning changing climatic patterns and future trends. GlobalChange.gov uses scientific knowledge and consistent method in evaluating trends and availing the information to the government, citizens, and businesses to make sound plans. The government is sensitizing the citizens to reduce emissions by adopting healthy behaviors like using public transport, conserving energy, and avoiding burning of trash (U.S. Global change program, 2009).
Effects of global climatic change in the United Kingdom
The effect of global climatic change is evident in the UK. The major concern is the rise in the sea level caused by the melting of the polar ice due to increasing global temperature. The sea level around the UK will rise by 26 – 86 centimeters by 2080, with the South and Eastern parts of the country experiencing severe conditions due to coastal erosion and glacial adjustment (Gov.UK). This effect is already evident in the country as popular beaches flood due to the rising ocean. The UK has a complete coastline surrounding the whole country; therefore, the rise in sea levels may cause flooding in major cities such as Liverpool, hamper transport, and affect energy production (Gov.UK). A report by the Department of Energy and Climate Change in 2013 showed a rise in sea level by 58 and 312 millimeters in Aberdeen and Liverpool cities respectively since 1920 (Parry, 2007). This poses a threat to human population.
The rising temperature is gaining momentum as the next big threat in the UK. The temperature around the UK has risen by 1 0C since the 1970s and could rise by 20 to 3.50C by 2080 (Gov.UK.). This will cause increasing summer heat waves and drought across the country. The high temperatures will cause increased evaporation of water from the soil, causing desiccation of arable lands and creation of arid like conditions. In 2003, the UK and most parts of Europe experienced a bout of heat waves that claimed the lives of 2,070 people in the UK alone (Greenpeace, 2004). ...