Will climate change also affect people's health?

Climate change has always been closely related to our survival. From the extreme high temperatures caused by global warming to the impact of air pollution on the respiratory system, the impact of climate on human health is much more serious than we feel.

The medical journal The Lancet published the report "The Lancet Countdown on Human Health and Climate Change" last year, pointing out that people around the world are facing record threats to health and survival caused by a rapidly changing climate. It is worth noting that among the 15 indicators for monitoring health threats, 10 indicators have set worrying new records.

Direct impact of climate on health

The impact of global climate change on health is mainly divided into two aspects. On the one hand, there are direct health effects, that is, the direct impact of heat waves, cold waves and other extreme weather events on health.

Studies have shown that extreme climate events increase the incidence and mortality of different types of non-communicable diseases. Diseases with high mortality rates caused by heat waves and cold waves mainly include cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The higher the temperature during the heat wave, the greater the impact on respiratory disease deaths. Rising temperatures increase the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Extreme weather events or meteorological disasters caused by climate change, such as mudslides, floods, typhoons, etc., will directly lead to increased mortality, disability, and incidence of infectious diseases, and may even cause post-traumatic stress disorder, affecting mental health, and causing damage to public health facilities.

According to the report, 2023 is the hottest year on record. Continued droughts, deadly heat waves, devastating forest fires, storms and floods have had a catastrophic impact on the health, lives and livelihoods of people around the world.

Heat-related mortality continues to increase rapidly, and is expected to exceed cold-related mortality in the scenario of rising temperatures. In 2023, the number of heat-related deaths among people over 65 years old worldwide will increase by 167% compared with the 1990s, a record high, far higher than the 65% increase expected if the temperature remains unchanged (i.e., only considering changes in population structure).

Indirect effects of climate on health

The indirect health effects of climate change are manifested as indirect effects on health through vector-borne diseases, air pollution, etc. Studies have found that climate change affects the spatial and temporal range of the incidence of communicable diseases (such as malaria, schistosomiasis, dengue fever, etc.). Climate change will affect the degree and range of schistosomiasis transmission, expand the scope of schistosomiasis and malaria endemic areas, and as the temperature rises, the incidence of malaria will increase and the transmission season will be extended.

The climate suitability for the transmission of deadly mosquito-borne infectious diseases has also improved. For example, compared with 1951-1960, the risk of dengue fever transmitted by Aedes albopictus increased by 46% in the past decade (2014-2023), and the risk of dengue fever transmitted by Aedes aegypti increased by 11%. In 2023, more than 80 countries and regions reported more than 5 million cases of dengue fever, a record high.

The threat of climate change to human health knows no borders, and responding to climate change requires the participation of every country in action. As ordinary people, we should also make some efforts to combat climate change, try to choose low-carbon and environmentally friendly modes of transportation such as buses, subways, bicycles, etc., use energy-saving home appliances, turn off computers, televisions and other electronic products when not in use, sell things we don’t need to others instead of throwing them away directly, and don’t waste food...

These methods can help alleviate climate change.