Multiple environmental changes and their effects on human well-being constituents and determinants
DownloaD Graphic 2
Ecosystem services
(provisioning, regulating/
Environmental change supporting, cultural) Human well-being
Stratospheric ozone depletion Improved food availability, but Increased UV-B radiation
also food shortages in places exposure
Increased mortality due to heat
Climate variability and change Reduced water quality and waves, droughts, floods, storm
(extreme climate events) availability in some regions surges
Decreased winter mortality in
Increased incidence of vector- the northern hemisphere
Land degradation
and water-borne diseases
Increased mortality and
morbidity due to vector- and
Land cover change (from
Increase in air pollution in water-borne diseases, local air
agriculture, forest, fisheries)
some localities pollution, food and water
shortages
Increased soi l Cultural loss due to habitat and
Freshwater (decline in quality
erosion, sedimentation, species loss
and quantity, diversion)
landslides, floods
Migration due to conflict and
environmental degradation or
Coastal zone degradation Loss of medicinal plants extreme climatic events
Source: based on
WHO 2003
Interlinkages

Environmental change may affect human well-
being in more than one way. For example, emis-
sions of carbon dioxide contribute both to climate
change and to acidification of the oceans. In
addition, land, water and atmosphere are linked
in many ways, particularly through carbon, nutri-
ent and water cycles, so that one form of change
leads to another.
Environmental risks affect a wide range of natu-
ral, economic, political and social activities and
processes. Therefore, vulnerability reduction
should be integrated as a strategic goal in overall
development planning in order to achieve the Mil-
lennium Development Goals. Analyzing patterns
of vulnerability helps identify a number of oppor-
tunities to reduce such vulnerability and improve
human well-being.
The role of women in environmental management and sustainable development is
vitally important and increasingly recognized. Above, women planting trees in Kenya
as part of the Green Belt Movement. Credit: William Campbell/Still Pictures
ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE 45