The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has just released its 4th assessment report detailing the latest findings on climate change and its impact on our planet.

Health gets much attention. It states that projected climate change-related exposures are likely to affect the health status of millions of people, particularly those with low adaptive capacity. The report's summary lists the following likely impacts:

• increases in malnutrition and consequent disorders, with implications for child growth and development;

• increased deaths, disease and injury due to heat waves, floods, storms, fires and droughts;

• the increased burden of diarrhoeal disease;

• the increased frequency of cardio-respiratory diseases due to higher concentrations of ground level ozone related to climate change and

• the altered spatial distribution of some infectious disease vectors

For more information see the IPCC website or go to the discussion forum on the topic.