How Climate Change Affects Global Health.
Introduction
Climate change is one of the biggest threats to global health.
Human activity in the last two centuries is the major contributor to changes in the climate condition.
Every country contributes to climate change in various proportions, however, heavily industrialized nations like China, USA, Russia, etc, are mostly responsible for greenhouse emissions while developing countries and small islands contribute less but are worst hit by climate change.
According to the WHO, about 250,000 deaths are expected to result from diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, malnutrition and heat stress due the effects of climate change by the year 2050.
Climate change crisis could impede the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) especially in developing nations, and efforts need to be made to mitigate the effects of climate change on population health.
What is Climate Change?
Climate change refers to prolonged changes in temperature and weather patterns. Climate change occurs naturally over millions of years due to changes in the activity of the sun or large volcano eruptions.
However, it has become more pronounced in recent times, as a result of man’s activities such as burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas, and there has been a 1.1°C increase in global temperature since the 1800’s.
Burning fossil fuels causes emission of greenhouse gases which traps heat from the sun and increases core temperature.
These greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide and methane which are released from the exhaust pipes of gasoline-consuming vehicles, burning of coal for cooking and fireplaces to warm houses and even deforestation.
Climate change has dire consequences such as droughts which can lead to water scarcity, floods, rising sea levels, melting of the polar ice, fire outbreaks, and declining biodiversity. These could cause disasters and have adverse effects on the health and safety of individuals around the globe.
How Climate Change Affects Health
Climate change has a serious impact on the physical and mental health of individuals, and is also responsible for the spread of some pathogens and diseases across different climes.
Increased global temperature and increased environmental toxins can affect the health of individuals in numerous ways. These effects include worsening of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, increased vector-borne and water-borne diseases like Malaria, Lyme disease, Dengue fever and Zika virus, in addition to increased incidence of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, heat cramps, mental stress and even death.
On one hand, extreme weather conditions that lead to droughts can cause outbreaks of communicable diseases like cholera due to lack of good water supply, and poor sanitation and hygiene practices. On the other hand, increased rainfall and warmer temperatures may favour the breeding and spread of pathogens and vectors like mosquitoes, which could lead to malaria outbreaks in previously malaria-free zones.
Disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires and flooding caused by climate change can also cause displacement of individuals, loss of property and lives, chronic stress and depression and also limit access to health services.
These changes can also affect food production and decrease the quality of crop yields, resulting in famine, hunger and malnutrition.
People living with chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia, the elderly, and those of lower socioeconomic class are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
These effects also pose a challenge to health workers who have to care for the increasing number of people affected and also handle disease outbreaks in these areas.
The economic impact of climate change on health is also enormous on both individuals and governments and can further weaken already struggling health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
Recommendations
Many people, communities and governments are oblivious of the effects of climate change on health. The COVID-19 pandemic and increased incidence of both communicable and non-communicable diseases reveals the need for increased preparedness and strengthening of health systems globally.
● Governments, health organisations and policymakers should increase awareness about climate change and its effects on health.
● Policies that reduce climate change and preserve the environment such as reduced burning of fossil fuels, methods of transportation that use cleaner energy like electric cars and trains, planting of trees and reduced deforestation, etc should be implemented.
● Countries should increase their budget for healthcare, putting into consideration the effects of climate change on the health of the population.
● Strengthening of health systems, improved environmental and health surveillance, and disaster preparedness through training and setting up of appropriate response teams should be taken seriously, especially among vulnerable populations.
● More research on climate change and ways to mitigate its effect on health should be done, especially in low-income countries who are more vulnerable and bear most of the brunt of climate change.
Conclusion
The Earth is our only home for now, and in order for it to continue to sustain life, we must all strive to make it clean and healthy in our own little ways.
Climate change is a serious threat to global health and its impact also cuts across all sectors. Every country contributes to the changes we now see in the climate, some more than others. However, fighting against climate change is a collective responsibility, and everyone must put in some effort to save our world.
References
● United Nations. What is climate change?
Available from: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
● WHO. Climate change and health.
Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health
● George Luber, Natasha Prudent. Climate Change and Human Health. Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. 2009; 120: 113-117.
Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2744549
● Stefanie Tye. How Climate Change Affects Health and How Countries can Respond. https://www.wri.org/insights/how-climate-change-affects-human-health-countries
