A/78/167 V. Impact of climate change on the health of persons with albinism A. Increased ultraviolet radiation and sun exposure 20. The effects of climate change are increasing human exposure to ultraviolet radiation, 8 and persons with albinism are at disproportionate risk of the health consequences thereof. Ultraviolet radiation is a key cause of skin cancer, and sunlight is the main source of ultraviolet radiation on Earth. 9 Several factors that are caused by climate change increase the amount of ultraviolet radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface, including ozone depletion and decreased cloud cover. 10 21. In the case of global warming, rises in ambient temperatu re are thought to exacerbate the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the skin and directly increase incidences of skin cancer. 11 Global warming further causes changes in human behaviour that increase exposure to the sun, such as spending more time outdoors or wearing less clothing, 12 in particular among populations that cannot afford or gain access to mitigation measures, such as air conditioning or shade. Changes caused by other climate impacts, such as decreased rainfall, may also increase the amount of time that people spend outdoors. 13 Incidences of skin cancer have been increasing globally as a result of climate change; in North-West Europe, it is expected that there will be an additional 90 million cases of skin cancer by 2050. 14 22. Persons with albinism globally are at much higher risk of developing skin cancer from ultraviolet radiation exposure compared with the general population. In the Africa region, it is estimated that persons with albinism are up to 1,000 times more likely to develop skin cancer, compared with the general population. 15 In the region, an estimated 98 per cent of persons with albinism reportedly do not live beyond 40 years of age because of sun exposure, with skin cancer being responsible for at least four fifths of these premature deaths. 16 In a recent article published in Malawi, climate change was highlighted as an existential threat to Malawians with albinism, given the high mortality from skin cancer over the past few years. 17 23. Persons with albinism who develop skin cancer can also be left with lasting skin damage and scars, even if they recover from the underlying cancer. 18 Therefore, climate change impacts that increase human exposure to ultraviolet radiation __________________ 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 23-13701 Eva Rawlings Parker, “The influence of climate change on skin cancer incidence: a review of the evidence”, International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, vol. 7, No. 1 (January 2021), pp. 17–27. Deevya L. Narayanan, Rao N. Saladi and Joshua L. Fox, “Ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer”, International Journal of Dermatology, vol. 49, No. 9 (September 2010), pp. 978–986. Ibid. Caradee Y. Wright and others, “The incidence of skin cancer in relation to climate change in South Africa”, Atmosphere, vol. 10, No. 10 (October 2019), p. 634. Ibid., footnote 11. Ibid. A. K. Bharath and R. J. Turner, “Impact of climate change on skin canc er”, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, vol. 102, No. 6 (June 2009), pp. 215–218. Samson K. Kiprono, Baraka M. Chaula and Helmut Beltraminelli, “Histological review of skin cancers in African Albinos: a 10-year retrospective review”, BMC Cancer, vol. 14 (March 2014), pp. 1–4. Esther Nakkazi, “People with albinism in Africa: contending with skin cancer”, The Lancet, vol. 394 (10198) (August 2019), pp. 553 and 554. Henry K. Mhango, “Climate change posing existential threat to Malawians with albinism”, The National, 3 July 2023. Farai Maunganidze, Kudakwashe Machiha and Martha Mapuranga, “Employment barriers and opportunities faced by people with albinism: a case of youths with albinism in Harare, Zimbabwe”, Cogent Social Sciences, vol. 8, No. 1 (2022). 7/23