Health: Work plan activities

Health: Understanding environmental factors affecting human health and well-being

"Health issues with Earth-observation needs include: airborne, marine, and water pollution; stratospheric ozone depletion; persistent organic pollutants; nutrition; and monitoring weather-related disease vectors. GEOSS will improve the flow of appropriate environmental data and health statistics to the health community, promoting a focus on prevention and contributing to continued improvements in human health worldwide."
– GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan, Section 4.1.2

Summary of ongoing tasks:

HE-06-03: Forecast Health Hazards
This Task is led by France and WMO.
Facilitate the formation of international consortia and coordinate, besides advocating funding for, the implementation of major demonstration pilot-projects integrating Earth observations, health and epidemiological as well as socio-economic data. As a priority, a project initiated by THORPEX will focus on the use of advanced weather and climate ensemble forecasting methods to develop and improve the predictability of major health hazards and impacts in developing countries (e.g., West Africa).
The “Health and Climate Partnership for Africa”, established by THORPEX will be developed.
Demonstration research projects and other relevant activities under the “Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Health” theme will be supported and co-ordinated internationally.
The Task will also initiate projects to improve the processing of real-time and historical data and the development of models relating remotely sensed, in-situ, socio-economic and epidemiological data for detecting disease trends and the provision of early warning systems.
Part of this Task will include addressing the health impacts of a polluted and warming coastal ocean (e.g. contamination of seafood and bathing water, increased growth of harmful algal blooms, water-borne diseases, such as cholera, etc.).

HE-07-01: Strengthen Observation and Information Systems for Health
Pilot projects will be initiated to improve in-situ environmental and health data collection for the utilisation and validation of remotely sensed data relevant to health, as well as to explore how the GEOSS will provide for the collection and distribution of information relevant to the diverse needs of the health community. To meet the target of developing an integrated global public health information network database, it will be necessary to begin the planning process to define necessary tools, interoperability standards, architecture and infrastructure, and user communities, in order to provide input into the GEO architecture and data development phase. This process will be initiated with a workshop involving all stakeholders.

HE-07-02: Environment and Health Monitoring and Modelling
Initiate projects to further develop and integrate databases of remotely sensed and in-situ environmental measurements (including baseline geochemical data such as trace-element toxicity and deficiencies) together with new observations characterizing atmospheric, soil, river, lake and coastal marine pollution, and develop models to relate these to exposure and health effects data. This Task will lead to the identification of mechanisms for alerting public health professionals on hazardous conditions identified by the monitoring of these parameters, as well as further informing epidemiological modelling studies.

HE-07-03: Integrated Atmospheric Pollution Monitoring, Modelling and Forecasting
Advocate a stable and improved in-situ and space-based observing system of global air quality in line with the Integrated Global Atmospheric Composition Observations (IGACO) recommendations. Support WMO efforts related to increased spatial and temporal resolution. As a priority, evaluate and recommend strategies for an integrated sampling frame for air pollution.
Coordinate and facilitate appropriate activities and consortia that complement UNECE CLRTAP HTAP activities and pursue implementation of projects integrating Earth observation data on long range transport with other data, such as health and socio-economic data, to improve decision making.
Support the development of international systems for both sand and dust storm warning and biomass burning monitoring.
Coordinate the construction of a high spatial and temporal resolution monitoring and forecasting system including atmospheric, terrestrial and oceanic observations, modelling and chemical data assimilation for global and local air quality. Organize appropriate symposia in 2007.