How climate change will affect our health and what we can do about it

What is it about?

Climate change has serious implications for human health because it causes or intensifies extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves. As a result, people suffer from things like heatstroke, malnutrition, diarrhoea, and diseases like dengue fever or malaria. This review predicts the effect that climate change will have on our health if we do not take action. The author also suggests ways we can reduce the effects of climate change, and how we can adapt our health systems.

Featured Image

Photo by Francisco Venâncio on Unsplash

Photo by Francisco Venâncio on Unsplash

Why is it important?

We are at a turning point. The way in which we tackle climate change will ripple out to affect health issues, migration and conflict. We have to recognize that the health of vulnerable populations is being affected, and watch for whether health systems are coping. KEY TAKEAWAY: Future health system policies and programs will have to focus not just on climate change itself, but also on any changes in population health status and the capacity of health systems to handle the potential outbreaks and escalations of climate change-related diseases. This research relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals: • SDG 13: Climate Action • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being • SDG 2: Zero Hunger • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation