Climate Change and the Crucial Role of Family Physicians

The climate change is defined as a shift in global temperatures and climate patterns. These changes have been slow previously but are now happening at a faster and intense rate due to various factors. The World Health Organization has labeled this shift as a significant threat to human health throughout the globe [1]. Various factors have been seen to be responsible for this major shift in the pattern. These changes primarily are because of human activities that release various forms of damaging gasses into the air. One of the major contributors to this damage is the burning from fossil fuels for energy, which traps heat and increase temperature of the planet [2]. Chopping down of forests is another reason for more damage as less trees will affect the absorption of carbon dioxide and hence effect quality of clean air [3]. The problem is further worsened by pollution from various factories, smoke form vehicles and poor disposal of wastages [4]. Farming practices involving livestock and fertilizers also produce strong greenhouse gases further adding to this burden [5].