Vibrio cholera has been found to be associated with zooplankton, and blooms from warmer sea surface temperatures could expand this important reservoir from which cholera epidemics may arise. Human susceptibility to disease might be further compounded by malnutrition due to climate impacts on agriculture. The World Commission on Environment and Development clearly illustrated that national governments can no longer separate economic development from environmental issues. In the short-term, development generally improves human health which is usually related to per capita income. Adverse outcomes that arise from disturbance of global environmental systems, such as the climate system will require more integrated preventive measures which take into account both long-term environmental and economic forces.
Development is central to policy directed towards climate change.
Local and regional development must be internationally coordinated with consideration of these long-term population health consequences. Developing countries will suffer disproportionately more from the consequences of climate change, though industrialized nations are presently more responsible for GHGs in the atmosphere. No less priority should be given to current health crises, however, the scope of public health needs a broader focus to begin to anticipate intergenerational health challenges already requiring preventive measures. For example increased energy demand for air conditioning will exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions and widespread pesticide applications can promote insect resistance, as well as impact human health directly through toxic exposures. Reducing air pollution and population growth, for example, have obvious short-term positive impacts on health.