“Unfortunately, catastrophes like [Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines] are likely to become more common in the coming years” as a result of climate change and population growth, John Seager, president of Population Connection, writes in the Huffington Post’s “World” blog. He notes that as sea levels rise as a result of climate change, “so does the threat to populations in low-lying areas such as the Philippines,” and asks, “What can we do about it?” He states, “We can’t move everyone [away from these areas]. But those of us in the developed world can move to lower-carbon living — and stop doing our part to make climate change worse.”

“And we can help the world’s most vulnerable people become more resilient,” he continues. “One simple tool — birth control — can play an important role in accomplishing both these goals,” he states, noting, “Right now, more than 222 million women in the developing world — many in areas at high risk of climate change-related effects — want to avoid pregnancy but lack the modern birth control they need to do so.” He adds, “It’s easy to feel hopeless in the face of the devastation in the Philippines. But there is plenty we can do,” such as giving to charitable organizations, reducing carbon emissions, and “ensur[ing] every woman around the world who wants it has access to contraception” (11/18).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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