PRESIDENT of the Medical Association of Jamaica Dr Brian James has made an impassioned plea to health-care workers to do something about what he describes as the biggest health risk of the 21st century — climate change.

Speaking at the launch of MDLink Diagnostic Laboratory on Thursday, Dr James, while underscoring that laboratory services are a crucial aspect of medical decision-making, said this generation will have to do something about the impact of climate change on health as it does not bode well for vulnerable populations.

“Some of the health impacts of global warming include a one-degree rise in temperature which translates to 3.4 per cent increase in cardiovascular mortality, Dr James said. “Crime precipitates mental health concerns. At higher temperatures there is an increase in the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses among indoor and outdoor workers. Outdoor workers, women, children, athletes and the elderly are at increased risk of heat-related injury.”

Further, Dr James said climate change presents an increased risk in vector capacity for the transmission of dengue and food-borne diseases like salmonella.

Moreover, he said the largest impact of climate change in the health industry is that large carbon footprint.

“This means it’s an area with a significant opportunity to play a part in mitigating the effects of climate change and global warming,” he said before giving suggestions for the greening of the diagnostic lab environment.

To make the lab environment green, Dr James suggested lab operators and health-care workers start the discussion and make climate change and global warming a part of the new culture of the health environment; reduce laboratory plastic waste by implementing recycling and reusing strategies to reduce carbon footprint; conserve water; reduce energy consumption; share resources; and use greener techniques.

He added that he was confident MDLink will become an active and committed partner in climate action.