Doctors warned of new health problems due to climate change

Doctors in Ireland are being encouraged to think about the ways in which climate change impacts on health and well-being.

Members of the Irish Doctors Environmental Association will be told at the group’s annual general meeting this week that it is essential for doctors to get involved in the fight against climate change. Members will be encouraged to partake in schemes to reduce their environmental impact.

Dr. Elizabeth Cullen, who will be speaking at the AGM, is currently completing her doctorate researching the health implications of climate change in Ireland. Dr. Cullen has warned that the rise in temperatures due to global warming could see certain types of deadly mosquito return to Ireland.

She said: “Climate change will affect everybody on the planet, but will impact mostly on people living in poorer countries in low-lying coastal areas.

“We hope to both educate people on the impact of climate change and to educate people about how to reduce their carbon footprint, and educate them about the effects of climate change.”

Dr. Cullen is pushing for the Health Service Executive (HSE) to implement climate change strategies at medical facilities across Ireland.