The Impact of Climate Change on Health
June of 2023 was the hottest in the UK since records began as per the Met Office. Changing climate conditions are turning into a public health emergency. Rising global temperatures are leading to heat-related illnesses, and deaths are taking a toll on the population. Data from the World Bank suggests that warmer temperatures could lead to 21 million additional deaths by 2050 due to mortality caused by extreme heat, stunting, diarrhea, malaria, and dengue.
As the patterns of infectious disease transmission change due to climate change, the world stands at a higher risk of being affected by life-threatening disease outbreaks and pandemics. Climate change also multiplies health impacts due to increased extreme weather conditions like floods, droughts, and wildfires.
While the effects of climate-related health calamities will be distributed unevenly across the globe, they will not be restricted to countries facing rising temperatures.
While we must take action to mitigate the causes of climate change, we must also build more resilient and better-prepared health systems to tackle these challenges head-on. This blog dives into how climate change affects health and what steps we can take to reduce its impact.
How Does Climate Change Affect Human Health?
Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures, precipitation, wind patterns, and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer. It is caused by rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that trap the sun's heat. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the past few years have broken emission records, highlighting how climate change isn't slowing down.
Here are seven ways climate change is affecting health:
Heat-related illnesses and deaths: Rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration, particularly affecting the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions. A study by Nature Climate Change in 2021 revealed that 37% of warm-season heat-related deaths were related to climate change, with increased deaths in every continent.
Injuries and fatalities from extreme weather events: Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of storms, floods, and other extreme weather events, leading to injuries and loss of life, as well as significant mental and emotional impacts on survivors.
Spread of vector-borne diseases: Alterations in temperature and rainfall can extend the geographic range and season of diseases like malaria and dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other vectors. If preventive action is not taken, the current figure of 7,00,000 annual deaths due to vector diseases could rise, as per the WHO.
Mental health problems: The psychological impacts, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, can arise from direct experiences of disasters as a result of climate change. Extreme weather can also affect mental health due to the stress related to food and water insecurity, unemployment, and environmental changes. Rising temperatures have also been correlated with health impacts like aggression and violent suicides. These effects are even worse for those already suffering from mental health diseases.
Increased risk of non-communicable diseases: Climate change is one of the contributing factors to the deaths caused by non-communicable diseases, which make up three-fourths of deaths worldwide, according to the WHO. As air pollution worsens by increasing ground-level ozone and particulate matter, it can lead to respiratory problems like asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Heat waves and air pollution can also cause adverse health impacts like strokes and cancer.
Malnutrition: Changing weather patterns and degrading environmental conditions negatively affect crop growth and harvesting. Unfavorable weather can lead to failed harvests, food shortages, and, ultimately, the risk of hunger. The World Food Programme states that malnutrition could increase by 20% if no action is taken to limit the effects of climate change.
Diseases from contaminated drinking water: As climate change persists, risks of water-borne diseases arise due to higher temperatures, more frequent heavy rains and runoff, and adverse storms. This change affects water supplies and sanitation, increasing the risk of diseases such as cholera and other water-borne illnesses. Today, 2 billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water, according to the WHO, and climate change is a major contributor.
Innovative Solutions to Address the Impact of Climate Change on Health
Enhanced surveillance and early-warning systems for disease: Climate change contributes to more extreme weather conditions, exacerbating health risks and spreading diseases. Technology is crucial in mitigating these risks through enhanced surveillance and early-warning systems. These systems, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics, can predict outbreaks and environmental changes in real-time, allowing quicker responses and minimizing impacts on human health. For example, meteorological systems can issue early warnings and timely alerts to trigger national, regional, or city-level actions and deployment of measures to be taken.
Infrastructure improvements in vulnerable regions: Technology can also drive infrastructure improvements, particularly in areas most susceptible to climate change. Advanced materials and engineering techniques allow for the construction of buildings and roads that can withstand harsher climates and more frequent natural disasters. For instance, elevated constructions in flood-prone areas or heat-resistant materials in regions experiencing higher temperatures can significantly reduce the vulnerability of these communities.
Promotion of green urban planning: Urban planning is pivotal in mitigating the effects of climate change, and technology is at the forefront of promoting green initiatives in city development. Smart cities integrate sustainable practices, like enhanced public transportation systems, green buildings, and efficient waste management, to create urban areas that are both livable and environmentally friendly. Tools such as geographic information systems (GIS) are essential for planning these spaces, ensuring they are efficient and minimize ecological footprints. Regions like the European Union are already taking action to integrate nature into city spaces by creating biodiverse and accessible green infrastructure as part of their ‘2030 biodiversity strategy.'
Development of climate-resilient health systems: The COVID-19 pandemic and other climate-related health disruptions have displayed how unprepared global health systems are to deal with these growing threats. For instance, a national survey in the US among primary care clinic staff found that 81% reported disruptions to their clinic were caused by the weather in the last three years, and less than 20% felt they were confident in their clinic's ability to deal with a climate-related emergency. Building climate-resilient health systems is essential. Technology supports this by integrating climate considerations into public health planning and emergency preparedness. Health information systems that are robust and adaptive to climatic disruptions ensure uninterrupted service during extreme events, and telemedicine platforms can bridge gaps in care during disasters.
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