The health impacts of climate change
We have all seen it: The picture of the polar bear, floating along on a very small iceberg. But what about us? What about our health? What about my Mum and her arthritis? My Dad and his asthma? My son, who insists on whizzing around a sun-trapped skate park in July?
The climate emergency affects us all, and we often talk about its impact on the environment, nature, infrastructure, economy, and our wallets. But, did you know that the climate crisis is also a health crisis? I have worked in sustainability for over a decade now, delivering change at both policy and practical levels. But it still surprises me how the health impacts of climate change remain overlooked!
“Climate change is the biggest threat to global public health in the 21st century” - The Lancet
In this month’s blog, I will explore how climate change affects our health, as individuals, communities, and the planet. I'll also discuss some solutions and why it's crucial for businesses and policymakers to address these issues.
How does climate change affect our health?
“Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress” - World Health Organization
Climate change is not some future problem, and it is already having a serious impact on our health. Let’s explore some of these:
Extreme weather and health: Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Heatwaves, hurricanes, and floods all have both direct and indirect health consequences. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to heat-related illnesses and even death. Moreover, flooding can contaminate water sources, leading to waterborne diseases like cholera.
Air quality and respiratory health: Climate change exacerbates air pollution. Higher temperatures can increase the formation of ground-level ozone, which harms respiratory health. Additionally, wildfires, intensified by climate change, release harmful particulate matter into the air. This worsens conditions like asthma and other respiratory diseases.
Food security and nutrition: Changes in climate patterns affect crop yields, the nutrient content of crops and food production. Droughts, floods, and shifting weather patterns can disrupt agriculture, leading to food scarcity and higher food prices. Poor nutrition resulting from these changes can lead to a range of health problems, especially among vulnerable populations.
Vector-borne diseases: Warmer temperatures and altered rainfall patterns create favourable conditions for disease vectors like mosquitoes. This increases the spread of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus, posing significant health risks.
Mental health and climate anxiety: Climate change-induced disasters, displacement, and uncertainty can severely affect our mental health. Climate anxiety and distress are becoming more prevalent. People may experience symptoms like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder due to climate-related events.
Displacement and health inequity: Climate change often forces communities to relocate due to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, or resource scarcity. This displacement can disrupt access to healthcare, increase vulnerability, and exacerbate health inequities.
Water scarcity and hygiene: Changing rainfall patterns can lead to water scarcity in some regions. This affects personal hygiene and sanitation, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities.
Biodiversity loss and zoonotic diseases: Climate change contributes to biodiversity loss, disrupting ecosystems. This can bring humans into closer contact with wildlife and increase the risk of zoonotic diseases, like COVID-19, spilling over from animals to humans.
What can be done?
Addressing climate change brings significant benefits to both our environment and our health. For example, by using renewable technologies to generate electricity, we can reduce emission and improve air quality. This, in turn reduces the exacerbation of respiratory illnesses and the burden this places on healthcare. Win - win! But to realise these co-benefits, we need meaningful action:
Reduce emissions: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through measures such as cleaner energy production, sustainable transportation, and energy-efficient practices is key to reducing the impacts of climate change.
Build climate resilience: Helping communities adapt to climate change is vital. This includes strengthening infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events, improving disaster preparedness, and ensuring access to healthcare in vulnerable areas.
Promoting sustainable agriculture: Encouraging sustainable farming practices, crop diversification, and supporting local food systems can enhance food security and nutrition in a changing climate.
Public awareness and education: Engaging the public can raise awareness about climate-health linkages. Educating communities about the health impacts of climate change can promote individual and collective action.
Mental health support: Advocate for mental health support services to address climate anxiety and distress. Promote resilience-building strategies to help individuals and communities cope with climate-related stressors.
Health equity: Advocate for policies that prioritise health equity, ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to healthcare and resources to adapt to climate change.
To deliver the level of change needed, we need to see action at all levels. Governments need to be setting clear direction through ambitious targets and appropriate policy drivers (guidance, incentive, regulation). Our businesses and organisations need to be implementing more sustainable practices and engaging with their customers and stakeholders. And, as individuals, we need to be aware and consider our climate impacts as we go about our lives.
To close…
The health impacts of climate change are so far-reaching and often disproportionately affect the most vulnerable among us. When I work with clients, I place health at the top of the agenda. As I talk about the impact that climate change has on our health, and on those we care about, I often see a change in people's perception. A sudden realisation: Tackling the climate crisis isn’t just a matter of environmental responsibility; it's a matter of public health and social justice.