WHO: More Bicycling, Less Polluting Needed

A World Health Organization official Monday recommended more bicycling as one way people in Asian nations can reduce carbon emissions fueling global warming.

Shigeru Omi, WHO’s regional director for the Western Pacific, also recommended that Asian nations institute taxes incentives to encourage companies to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as use clean energy sources, The Independent Online reported. He made the comments at the start of a four-day conference on the impact of climate change and health in Southeast and East Asian nations.

So far the impact is on the health of the people, Omi said. “If the trend continues, it may have an impact on the economy.

Of course the threat is there. We should not wait for that to happen.

WHO blames climate change for directly or indirectly contributing to about 77 000 deaths per year in the region.