How climate change and extreme weather affect mental health – South China Morning Post

Report on the Intersection of Extreme Weather, Mental Health, and Sustainable Development Goals

Escalating Climate Events Undermining SDG 13 (Climate Action)

Recent global and local weather phenomena highlight a significant challenge to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action). The World Meteorological Organization documented 151 “unprecedented” extreme weather events in 2024, the hottest year on record. These events, including heatwaves and severe storms, underscore the urgent need for enhanced climate resilience and adaptive capacity.

A case study from Hong Kong illustrates this trend:

• Super Typhoon Ragasa: The second No. 10 typhoon warning of the year and the strongest global tropical cyclone at the time of its approach.
• Torrential Flooding: A black rainstorm on August 5 persisted for over 11 hours, causing widespread floods.
• Record Temperatures: October 2024 was recorded as the hottest since 1884.

These occurrences demonstrate the tangible impacts of climate change, directly impeding progress toward the targets set forth in SDG 13.

Detrimental Impacts on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

The consequences of climate change extend beyond physical damage, posing a severe threat to mental health and thus undermining SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Research indicates a growing mental health crisis fueled by climate-related stressors.

Key findings from recent studies include:

• A March 2025 study in The Journal of Climate Change and Health found that chronic climate stressors are fueling extreme levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness, particularly among adolescents in severely affected regions.
• A November 2025 study in Climatic Change identified a link between increased social media use and higher levels of “climate doom”—the belief that climate change has reached an irreversible point.

These psychological impacts represent a critical health crisis that must be integrated into climate action and public health strategies to ensure the promotion of mental health and well-being for all.

Cascading Effects Across Multiple Sustainable Development Goals

The failure to adequately address climate change creates cascading negative effects across the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The interconnected nature of the goals means that climate-related disruptions in one area jeopardize progress in others.

1. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Extreme weather, exemplified by the damage from Super Typhoon Ragasa in Hong Kong, directly threatens urban infrastructure, compromises public safety, and challenges the goal of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
2. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Research from Trinity College Dublin explicitly links climate-induced drought to chronic food insecurity, a direct contradiction to the objective of ending hunger and ensuring food security.
3. SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): The same study identifies water scarcity as a primary climate stressor, jeopardizing the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly connects extreme weather events to a decline in mental health. It explicitly states that the impact of these events “is taking a toll on people’s mental health” and cites a study that found climate stressors are “fuelling a mental health crisis” with reports of “extreme levels of anxiety, depression and a profound sense of hopelessness.” This establishes a clear link to the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article begins by describing the impact of extreme weather on Hong Kong, a densely populated city. It mentions “Super Typhoon Ragasa,” a “black rainstorm” that “triggered torrential floods,” and the damage to infrastructure, as shown in the image caption: “A road damaged by Super Typhoon Ragasa.” These events directly challenge the safety, resilience, and sustainability of urban environments.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  This is the central theme of the article. The entire text discusses the manifestations and consequences of climate change. It details “unprecedented extreme weather events,” such as “heatwaves, supercharged storms and severe floods,” and identifies 2024 as “the hottest year on record.” The article’s focus on the tangible impacts of a changing climate makes SDG 13 the primary goal being addressed.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being

   This target aims to “reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The article’s detailed discussion of a “mental health crisis” driven by climate stressors, including “anxiety, depression and a profound sense of hopelessness,” directly relates to the promotion of mental health and well-being.

2. Target 11.5: Reduce the impact of disasters

   This target seeks to “significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters.” The article’s description of Super Typhoon Ragasa, torrential floods in Hong Kong, and the resulting damage to a road are examples of the disasters and economic losses this target aims to mitigate.

3. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards

   This target focuses on building the ability to withstand and adapt to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The article highlights the vulnerability of communities to these hazards by describing the havoc wreaked by “heatwaves, supercharged storms and severe floods” globally and the specific impacts on Hong Kong. The negative effects on mental health and infrastructure underscore the need for greater resilience.

4. Target 13.3: Improve education and awareness-raising on climate change

   This target aims to improve “education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” The article touches on this by mentioning a study that links “greater social media use and higher levels of climate doom.” This finding relates directly to public awareness and the psychological impact of information about climate change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Mental Health Outcomes

  The article implies indicators for mental well-being by citing a study that found “extreme levels of anxiety, depression and a profound sense of hopelessness” among adolescents. The prevalence of these conditions in populations affected by climate change can be used as a measure of progress (or lack thereof) towards Target 3.4.

• Frequency and Intensity of Extreme Weather Events

  The article explicitly provides data that can serve as an indicator. The World Meteorological Organization’s report of “151 ‘unprecedented’ extreme weather events in 2024” and the fact that it was the “hottest year on record” are quantitative indicators of increasing climate-related hazards, relevant to Target 13.1. The specific mention of a “No 10 typhoon warning” and a “black rainstorm” lasting “more than 11 hours” are also indicators of the intensity of these events.

• Infrastructure Damage

  The image caption, “A road damaged by Super Typhoon Ragasa,” points to an indicator for Target 11.5. The extent of damage to critical infrastructure (like roads, power grids, and buildings) following a disaster is a key metric for assessing economic losses and community resilience.

• Public Awareness and Perception

  The mention of “climate doom” as a belief that “climate change has reached a point of no return” is an implied indicator for Target 13.3. Measuring the prevalence of such beliefs within a population can help gauge the effectiveness of climate education and communication strategies.

4. Table of Identified SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: scmp.com