Climate Change: A Public Health Crisis

This podcast delves into the critical intersection of climate change and health, discussing how global warming is not only an environmental issue but a significant public health crisis.

The conversation revolves around the increasing disease burden due to climate change, the need for urgent action, and the role of various sectors in mitigating these impacts.

Despite a quarter of global disease burden being linked to environmental risk factors that can be predicted and adapted for, only half a percent of multilateral climate funding is allocated towards protection and improvement of human health.

Research initiatives aimed at understanding the impact of climate change on health are underway.

These studies range from examining effects on pregnant agricultural workers in The Gambia to psychological stress caused by exposure to extreme weather events.

While awareness about the impact of climate change on health has increased, much more needs to be learned to drive meaningful action.

Reliable evidence can lead discussions that result in significant changes.

There is a call for urgent global action to reduce emissions and safeguard human health.

The fight against climate change should focus on saving lives, rather than merely averting degrees Celsius.

Climate change leads to crop failures due to changing weather patterns, resulting in food shortages and increased instances of malnutrition and disease, especially in regions most severely impacted by climate change.

‘We should not be measuring our progress in terms of degrees Celsius sort of abated or averted but in lives saved and we are fundamentally that is the fight that we are for.’ – ‘Vanessa Kerry, Co-founder and CEO of Seed Global Health and WH Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health’

A report predicts 700 million more people at risk from severe weather events and 1.6 billion life years potentially lost between now and 2050 due to climate change.

There has also been an 85% increase in heat-related deaths for over 65s since the ’90s.

Climate change is not only a public health crisis but also an equity crisis as poorer areas and marginalized communities bear the brunt of its effects more heavily than others.

Despite contributing significantly to carbon emissions globally, the global health community’s recognition of the importance of addressing climate change has been slow.

More action from this community is needed.

COP28’s focus on protecting health from climate change impacts didn’t go far enough as much-needed funding was pre-earmarked and not new.

More funding and action are needed to adapt to the changing climate and protect health.