Our world is facing an unprecedented global challenge, climate change. The burning of fossil fuels and the subsequent rise in global temperatures are having a significant impact on health, security, and biodiversity. A recent Lancet Countdown report titled “Health at the Mercy of Fossil Fuels” highlights how our reliance on these outdated energy sources is increasing the risk of disease, food insecurity, and heat-related illnesses.
The Detrimental Effects of Climate Change on Health
Climate change has tangible impacts on the social and environmental determinants of health, including clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. Higher temperatures and altered weather patterns can exacerbate existing health problems and introduce new ones. For instance, as the temperatures rise, vulnerable populations (namely adults above 65 and children younger than one) face an increased number of heatwave days. In 2021 alone, there were an extra 3.7 billion heatwave days compared to the annual average between 1986 and 2005.
The Role of Climate Change in Infectious Diseases
Climate change also plays a role in the spread of infectious diseases by altering the habitats and behaviours of disease-carrying organisms. These changes may increase the risk of emerging diseases, and co-epidemics. The report points out that coastal waters are becoming more conducive for Vibrio pathogens transmission. Likewise, the number of months suitable for malaria transmission has grown in the highland areas of the Americas and Africa. WHO forecasts that climate change will cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress between 2030 and 2050.
Impact of Climate Change on Food Security
Climate change threatens every aspect of food security. Rising temperatures can directly affect crop yields, shortening the growth season for many cereal crops. Extreme weather events can disrupt supply chains, undermining food availability, access, stability, and utilization. The prevalence of undernourishment increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, with up to 161 million more people facing hunger in 2020 than in 2019. This situation is worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its subsequent effects on global food security.
The Negative Consequences of Fossil Fuel Dependency
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has compelled many countries to seek alternatives to Russian oil and gas. Some are reverting to traditional thermal energy sources, despite their negative environmental impacts. Even if this returned interest in coal is temporary, it could negate air quality improvements and hasten the climate change threatening human survival.
Suggested Health-Centric Responses
Addressing the climate, energy, and cost-of-living crises from a health-centric perspective presents an opportunity to create a healthier, low-carbon future. Improvements in air quality could prevent deaths from exposure to fossil fuel-derived PM2.5. Emphasizing low-carbon travel and increasing urban spaces could promote physical activity, benefiting both physical and mental health.
The Importance of Transitioning to Balanced and Plant-Based Diets
Accelerating the transition to balanced and more plant-based diets could reduce emissions from red meat and milk production while preventing diet-related deaths. This shift could substantially reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases, lessen the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, ease strain on healthcare providers, and lead to stronger health systems.
Global Coordination as the Key
Global collaboration, funding, transparency, and cooperation among governments, communities, civil society, businesses, and public health leaders can reduce or prevent vulnerabilities on a global scale. It’s crucial to join forces and make use of every resource available to combat this global crisis effectively.
