Not considered is the possibility that climate change could _save_ lives as well. Something similar occurs with economic news, where no matter what happens (interest rates go up/down, bond yields up/down, etc.) somebody is invested in the status quo and therefore is hurt by the change.

Even if true, it is such a ridiculously small number in compariso to the world's population. I bet more people die from choking on chicken bones every year.

Quebec has taken some steps at addressing climate-related problems, such as Montreal's emergency heat wave plan and the city's new anti-idling legislation, but more needs to be done, Gosselin said.

Anti-idling? Could they use this law against lawmakers?

I can understand diarrhea as a problem but just how does climate change cause contaminated water?

I'm sure I have read that the number of deaths due to diarrhea and similar problems (per year) is in the millions, not just 150,000. Perhaps things are better in 2005, but that number doesn't seem correct.

Malaria kills upwards of 3 million a year, and sicknesses from parasites kill a million or more per year.

The real question is how hospitals will change their treatment policies in order to meet the threat of climate change. Strangely enough, the article didn't elaborate.

I like the line used when people make the false claims of 55,000 people dying from second hand smoke each year; Name one.

Jim Hamlen:

My understanding is that water-borne diseases (manifested by diarrhea) kill tens of millions per year in Africa and South America. Could be cured by water and sewer 'package plants' (which we use in smallish American subdivisions), and can be helicoptered into even the most remote African jungle, could be feasibly operated by the most 'backward' tribes with a little training, except that green groups object to them because they are 'population inducing' (i.e. they save people from dying).

Malaria also kills millions. Last I heard, DDT (appropriately applied) would save those folks, as well.

Peter,

oj says most people are satisfied with their schools. I say, if that's true, it's because they themselves are victims of the same schools.

These problems wouldn't go unsolved decade after decade, if most of us didn't stupidly believe that experts know what they're talking about. If we were informed, we wouldn't sit idly by while UN supported and sponsored environmental wingnuts and murderous despots are allowed to kill to millions.

We contribute billions to help eradicate this or that scourge, but the truth is that all we're doing is keeping the status quo going with the same people who caused the problem in charge of providing the solution.