Heat, Disease, Air Pollution: How Climate Change Impacts Health

Growing Concerns for Human Health in the Face of Global Warming

Introduction

There is an increasing recognition of the various ways in which global warming impacts human health. As a result, the upcoming UN climate talks will dedicate a day to discussing this issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled climate change as the biggest threat to human health, citing reasons such as extreme heat, air pollution, and the spread of infectious diseases. To prevent catastrophic health impacts and climate change-related deaths, it is crucial to limit global warming to the target set by the Paris Agreement: 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The Current Situation

Unfortunately, the world is currently on track to warm up to 2.9 degrees Celsius by the end of this century, according to the United Nations. While no one is exempt from the effects of climate change, certain groups are more vulnerable, including children, women, the elderly, migrants, and people in less developed countries that have emitted fewer greenhouse gases.

Health Day at COP28 Negotiations

The COP28 negotiations in Dubai will host the first-ever “health day” at the climate negotiations on December 3. This dedicated day will provide an opportunity to address the health implications of climate change and explore potential solutions.

Impact of Extreme Heat

This year is expected to be the hottest on record, with even more frequent and intense heatwaves predicted in the future. Heatwaves have already caused significant health issues, with over 70,000 deaths in Europe during the summer of last year. The Lancet Countdown report reveals that people worldwide were exposed to an average of 86 days of life-threatening temperatures last year. The number of heat-related deaths among individuals over 65 has increased by 85% from 1991-2000 to 2013-2022. If global warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius, the projected number of heat-related deaths will be more than five times higher by 2050.

Other Climate Change Impacts

In addition to extreme heat, climate change will also lead to more droughts, increasing the risk of hunger. Under a 2-degree Celsius warming scenario, an estimated 520 million more people will experience moderate or severe food insecurity by 2050. Furthermore, extreme weather events like storms, floods, and fires will continue to threaten global health.

Air Pollution

Nearly 99% of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds the WHO’s guidelines for air pollution. Fossil fuel emissions contribute to outdoor air pollution, causing over four million premature deaths annually. This pollution increases the risk of respiratory diseases, strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and other health problems. The Lancet Countdown report indicates that deaths from air pollution due to fossil fuels have decreased by 16% since 2005, primarily due to efforts to reduce coal burning.

Infectious Diseases

The changing climate allows disease-carrying mosquitoes, birds, and mammals to expand their habitats, increasing the risk of spreading infectious diseases. Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya, Zika, West Nile virus, and malaria pose a greater threat due to climate change. The transmission potential for dengue alone is projected to increase by 36% with a 2-degree Celsius warming. Storms and floods create stagnant water, which serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and increases the risk of water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. There is also concern that mammals entering new areas could transmit diseases to each other, potentially leading to the emergence of new viruses that could affect humans.

Mental Health

The anxiety surrounding the present and future consequences of global warming has led to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychologists have warned that individuals already struggling with these disorders are particularly vulnerable. Data from Google Trends shows a significant increase in online searches for the term “climate anxiety,” indicating the growing concern among the population.

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