The findings of a report by UK medical journal The Lancet has given a stark warning about the threat to health caused by climate change, according to Christian Aid, a London-based international NGO.

Climate change threatened to undo much of the health gains made in recent years, said Alison Doig, Christian Aid's principle climate change advisor.

"The world has made huge progress in the last 50 years reducing poverty and eradicating disease. But this report shows that climate change has the potential to unravel much of this good work," she said.

She pointed out that climate change threatens health directly through heat waves, drought and floods, as well as from secondary impacts such as displacement, malnutrition and mental health problems.

"The report is right to point out though that by tackling climate change by embracing a low carbon world. There are huge opportunities for better global health and addressing other concerns such as migration and food insecurity," she said.

"The health benefits from better air quality through phase out of coal burning are obvious but renewable energy can also enable clinics in remote areas to keep medication refrigerated and provides power and light to allow better care to be given through the night," she added.

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