Unveiling the Impact of Climate Change on Global Health: Insights from The Lancet Countdown and IPCC Reports
The consensus among scientists is that we are currently in an era of global heating and extreme weather events, primarily due to the devastating effects of human action on the environment. Researchers are deeply concerned about the implications of these changes for global health.
The Lancet Countdown team, comprised of over 120 leading experts on climate, public health, economy, and political science, has been monitoring climate change and its impact on global health since 2015, the year of the Paris Agreement. Their yearly reports assess the situation and hold signatory governments and decision-makers accountable for their commitments.
The latest report from the Lancet Countdown, published in October 2021, highlights the deepening inequities across all regions as global heating continues to be a major concern. The report discusses the impact of climate change in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the concern caused by extreme heat events and related natural disasters over the past 2 years.
Climate change has a significant impact on the livelihood of communities worldwide, affecting mental and physical health, and contributing to the spread of infectious diseases. These findings align with reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which show that extreme weather events caused by human action are surpassing the resilience of ecological and human systems.
The IPCC reports for 2022 reveal that weather extremes related to climate change have affected the productivity of various food sectors globally, exacerbating food insecurity. Climate change also impacts mental health and contributes to the spread of vector-borne communicable diseases.
The increase in global temperatures, driven by human activity and greenhouse gas emissions, has led to a 1.2-degree Celsius rise since the pre-industrial period. NASA data shows that most of this heating has occurred in the past 40 years, trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere.
The implications for health are vast, with climate change affecting livelihoods, food security, clean water access, and more. Melting glaciers contribute to rising sea levels, impacting marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Agricultural productivity has been compromised, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, leading to food insecurity.
Extreme heat and weather events can have direct impacts on human health, such as increased hospitalizations due to hyponatremia in high temperatures. Temperature variations can influence immune system responses to pathogens, affecting disease spread and severity.
Climate change also increases the transmission of infectious diseases, such as malaria and arboviruses, due to changing environmental conditions. Vector-borne diseases are spreading faster and farther, posing a significant threat to global health.
The Lancet Countdown report emphasizes the need for urgent action to address climate change and its impact on health. Governments and decision-makers must prioritize low-carbon economic recovery pathways and policies that reduce inequities and improve human health.
Health systems can also play a role in addressing climate change by becoming more eco-friendly and promoting healthier lifestyles. By treating climate change as a health crisis, we can make the issue more immediate and drive behavior shifts towards low-carbon transitions and healthier futures.
In conclusion, the interconnectedness of human health and the environment is clear, and urgent action is needed to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on global health.