Climate Change: A Growing Threat to Global Health

Record-breaking heat, extreme weather events, rising air pollution, and the spread of infectious diseases: experts warn that climate change is already inflicting widespread harm on human health — and the danger is escalating.

As the latest round of UN climate talks begins next week, the world is bracing for what is expected to be the hottest year on record — and all of this unfolding in the political context of Donald Trump’s re-election as US president, a known climate skeptic. The COP29 negotiations will be held in Azerbaijan, as countries continue to emit ever-increasing levels of fossil fuels, even while many nations are grappling with devastating floods, droughts, heatwaves, and storms.

“Climate change is making us sick, and urgent action is a matter of life and death,” warned the World Health Organization (WHO) this week.

Here’s how global warming is impacting human health:

Extreme Heat

The European Union’s climate monitor recently stated that 2024 is “virtually certain” to surpass 2023 as the hottest year in recorded history. This year will also mark the first time that global temperatures exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900).

According to the latest report from The Lancet Countdown, 10 of the 15 health indicators they track related to climate change have now reached “concerning new records.” For example, the number of heat-related deaths among people over 65 has risen by 167% since the 1990s.

Extreme heat brings with it a host of health risks, including kidney disorders, strokes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, organ failure, and even death.

Jeni Miller, executive director of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, highlighted the mounting toll of climate change on health, pointing to the 700 heat-related deaths and over 40,000 heatstroke cases in India this year alone. Additionally, climate-exacerbated rains in Nigeria caused a dam to collapse, killing 320 people, while 48 out of 50 US states are currently experiencing moderate or worse drought conditions.

Spain is still recovering from its deadliest floods in a generation, and both the US and Cuba are dealing with the aftermath of recent hurricanes. Meanwhile, global food production is also being hit hard by droughts, floods, and extreme weather, leading to rising hunger in many parts of the world.

Air Pollution

Nearly 99% of the global population is exposed to air pollution levels that exceed the World Health Organization’s safe guidelines. Air pollution is linked to a range of serious health conditions, including respiratory diseases, strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and more. In fact, air pollution is now considered a health threat on par with tobacco use.

Each year, almost seven million premature deaths are attributed to air pollution, according to the WHO. Last week, Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, recorded air pollution levels 40 times above the WHO’s recommended limits.

On a more positive note, the Lancet Countdown report found that deaths from fossil fuel-related air pollution declined by nearly 7% between 2016 and 2021, thanks to global efforts to reduce coal emissions.

Infectious Diseases

Climate change is altering the habitats of mosquitoes, birds, and mammals, expanding the range of infectious diseases that they carry. Diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, West Nile virus, and malaria are all on the rise, as the warming climate allows disease-carrying mosquitoes to thrive in new regions.

The risk of dengue transmission, for example, has increased by 43% over the past 60 years, and last year saw a record number of over 5 million reported cases of the disease.

In addition to mosquitoes, storms and floods create stagnant water that serves as breeding grounds for other disease vectors. Waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea are also more likely to spread in such conditions.

Conclusion

The health impacts of climate change are already severe and are expected to grow exponentially. The latest reports from climate scientists and health experts underscore the urgency of global action to address both the causes and consequences of climate change. From extreme heat and air pollution to the spread of infectious diseases and hunger, the climate crisis is a public health emergency that demands immediate and sustained attention.