Milkin Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Dr. DY Patil Medical College (Dr DY Patil Vidyapeeth), Pampri, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Correspondence to: Dr Swati Y. Bhave, 601 Alliance Shanti, Shantisheela Co-operative society, Law College Road, Erandawane Pune 411 004, Maharashtra, India.
Indian Pediatr. 2023 Sep 15;60(9):714-718.
Climate change is already impacting children's health in a variety of ways. Indian children are among the most severely affected; they are experiencing respiratory illnesses from air pollution, heat-related illnesses, malnutrition, vector- and water-borne diseases; and mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder from weather disasters. There is a need to increase awareness and capacity building among paediatricians for understanding the impact of climate change on the health of children and educating parents about preventive measures. Detailed environmental history taking will help to identify risk factors. To address climate change issues, professional paediatric associations should increase their advocacy with government agencies. It is essential to ask policymakers to immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing the burning of coal and other fossil fuels and moving to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will reduce India's carbon emissions and decrease environmental illness among children. The pediatricians of India should declare that climate change is a child health emergency.
气候变化已经以多种方式影响儿童的健康。印度儿童是受影响最严重的群体之一；他们正遭受空气污染导致的呼吸道疾病、与热相关的疾病、营养不良、媒介传播疾病和水传播疾病；以及因天气灾害导致的创伤后应激障碍等心理健康问题。需要提高儿科医生对气候变化对儿童健康影响的认识和能力建设，并教育家长采取预防措施。详细的环境病史采集将有助于识别风险因素。为了解决气候变化问题，专业儿科协会应加强与政府机构的宣传。必须要求政策制定者立即减少温室气体排放。减少煤炭和其他化石燃料的燃烧，并转向太阳能和风能等可再生能源，将减少印度的碳排放，减少儿童的环境疾病。印度的儿科医生应该宣布气候变化是儿童健康的紧急情况。
