Health Outcomes as a Result of Climate Change Due to Vector-Borne Diseases: A Case Study In The Langat River Basin, Selangor

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Climate change has become abundantly clear over the past several decades. It is a reflection of the stress placed on the earth’s biosphere and related ecological systems. The major causes are a growing human population and economic activities which are highly dependent on fossil fuels. The transfer of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the earth’s atmosphere has led to the intensification of the greenhouse effect. This brings about changes to the climate and weather. Environmental changes in temperature and precipitation have an adverse impact on public health, which can vary substantially from country to country. This paper discusses the preliminary findings on the health outcomes as a result of climate change due to vector-borne diseases in the Langat River Basin, Selangor, Malaysia.

Stream: Human Impacts

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Er Ah Choy obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Economics) and Masters in Economics from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 1986 and 1990 respectively. She was a Senior Economist with a consultancy firm prior to joining UKM as a lecturer in 1995. In August 2007, she was promoted to the post of Senior Lecturer. In October the same year, she obtained her Ph.D in Environmental Sciences from Wageningen University, The Netherlands. Her research interests and publications are related to policy studies, sustainable development and environmental management with special emphasis in the agricultural and industrial sectors. She is currently attached to the School of Social, Development and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UKM.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), which was designated as one of the four research universities in the country in October 2006 identified Climate Change as one of the seven niche areas that will propel UKM to become a prestigious research university. Helming the climate change issue at the policy level is Prof. Dr. Joy Jacqueline Pereira, Chair of the Malaysian Network for Research on Climate, Environment and Development (MyCLIMATE), based at the Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI). The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has entrusted LESTARI with the task of developing a national policy and strategies on climate change. The Policy Study on Climate Change, led by Prof. Pereira and funded under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, aims to facilitate the integration of future climate risks, adaptation and mitigation aspects into decision-making processes at federal, state and local levels. LESTARI is also involved in assisting the Ministry in the preparation of the Second National Communication (NC2). Realising the urgency to deal with the human dimension of climate change, LESTARI chairs the Socio-Economic Impacts and Responses Support Group of NC2. The Support Group is chaired by Prof. Pereira and reports to the Vulnerability and Adaptation Working Group of NC2, chaired by the National Hydraulics National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM).