Climate change is among the most discussed topics in a variety of fields, as it has overarching effects on many aspects of human life. Global health is likely to be among these factors, as well, as many people now live in different environments than what they are used to. The full extent of the relationship is still unknown, but active research and action informed by its results need to take place immediately to mitigate the damage.
It is unknown which conditions are exacerbated by growing temperatures and heatwaves or to what extent. Watts et al. (2018) suggest possibilities such as cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney conditions, and heat stroke, among others. There are numerous other possibilities, as well, and more research is necessary to understand them.
Other than direct health issues, the side effects of climate change also need to be considered, particularly in developing nations. Watts et al. (2018) highlight food insecurity, as humanity’s ability to produce food, falls with temperature rises for several different reasons. Combined with other difficulties, climate change has the potential to significantly harm nations that are struggling with issues such as poverty.
Action on both the national and the international levels is required to maintain global health despite the threat presented by climate change. Lemery and Auerbach (2017) claim that the highest priority at this time is to identify an immediate health threat and change humanity’s lifestyle and resource consumption habits. Through more well-considered habits, it is possible to handle the crisis without incurring unnecessary damage.
Climate change is a real and present phenomenon, irrespective of the debate about its causes. Understanding its effects is essential to designing strategies that mitigate its health effects while preserving items such as the economy. As such, for global health experts, research into the problem should be a high priority.
References
Lemery, J., & Auerbach, P. (2017). Enviromedics: The impact of climate change on human health. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Watts, N., Amann, M., Ayeb-Karlsson, S., Belesova, K., Bouley, T., Boykoff, M.,… & Costello, A. (2018). The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: From 25 years of inaction to a global transformation for public health. The Lancet, 391(10120), 581-630.