National and global monitoring and surveillance systems for the health risks of global change

Abstract

Understanding and managing the challenges of global change means that current monitoring and surveillance programs need to be modified to collect and analyze data and communicate information to understand the burden and geographic distribution of current and possible future risks of global change, the options to manage these risks, and the effectiveness of implemented strategies, policies, and measures. These modifications include integrating data from a wide range of disciplines, collecting new data to fill knowledge gaps, and ensuring an iterative process of data collection and analysis as baselines and risks continue to change.