Health impacts of climate change

Climate change poses significant risks to human health through various environmental changes. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels contribute to a range of health issues that affect populations worldwide.

Key health risks associated with climate change

• Severe weather events - Storms, hurricanes, and floods lead to injuries and fatalities due to their destructive nature.
• Air pollution - Increased temperatures and wildfires worsen air quality, contributing to asthma and cardiovascular diseases.
• Vector-borne diseases - Warmer conditions allow mosquitoes and other disease carriers to thrive in new areas, increasing the spread of malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever. For instance, a temperature rise of 2°C could expose up to 60 million more Africans to malaria.
• Allergies - Changes in climate extend pollen seasons, triggering respiratory allergies in more individuals.
• Water-borne diseases - Flooding and warmer water temperatures promote the spread of diseases like cholera and leptospirosis.
• Mental health issues - Climate-related disasters and displacement cause anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress among affected populations.
• Water and food supply disruptions - Droughts and floods lead to malnutrition, diarrhoea, and harmful algal blooms in water sources.
• Heat stress - Rising temperatures result in heat-related illnesses and cardiovascular failure, particularly in vulnerable groups like the elderly.

Effects on human migration and environmental refugees

Climate change is a driving force behind human migration, as environmental conditions force people to leave their homes. This phenomenon is particularly evident in areas most affected by rising sea levels and other climate impacts.

Causes of climate-induced migration

• Rising sea levels - Low-lying coastal areas and islands are becoming uninhabitable, pushing residents to seek new homes. For example, communities in small Pacific islands like Kiribati have started relocating due to encroaching seas.
• Loss of agricultural land - Desertification and water resource depletion compel people to move to urban centres or other countries.

Consequences of climate-induced migration

• Environmental refugees - Individuals and families displaced by climate impacts face challenges like forced migration and potential civil conflict in new areas.
• Strain on resources - Migration often strains resources in destination areas, whether urban centres or other countries.

Changes in trade routes and tourism due to climate change

While climate change brings many challenges, it also creates some opportunities in specific sectors. Melting ice and shifting weather patterns are altering global trade routes and tourism industries in unexpected ways.

Changes in trade routes

As Arctic sea ice melts, potential trade routes like the Northern Sea Route along Russia's coastline and the North-West Passage in Canada may become accessible, shortening shipping times. However, geopolitical disputes over control and access to these routes remain unresolved.

Changes in tourism

• Extended seasons - Warmer temperatures could extend summer holiday seasons and encourage the development of coastal resorts in northern regions.
• Winter sports decline - Winter sports destinations may suffer from reduced snowfall, leading to a decline in ski and snowboarding tourism.

Social and economic challenges in low-income countries

Climate change disproportionately affects low-income countries (LICs) compared to high-income countries (HICs), exacerbating existing social and economic inequalities. These nations often lack the resources to adapt to or mitigate the impacts.

Specific vulnerabilities in LICs

• Agricultural dependency - Many LICs rely heavily on farming for their economy and employment. For instance, in a country like Bangladesh, flooding threatens a sector that accounts for 20% of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 65% of the workforce.
• Weak infrastructure - Poorly developed roads, communications, and emergency services hinder effective responses to climate-related disasters like coastal flooding, particularly in countries with land below sea level.
• Vulnerable populations - A larger proportion of people in LICs are already at risk from climate impacts due to poverty and limited access to technology or financial resources for adaptation.
• Social issues - Climate change can intensify hunger, conflict, and cultural shifts as national resource bases are disrupted, driving economic and social instability.

Loss of ecosystem services due to climate shifts

Ecosystems provide critical services that support human life and environmental stability. Climate change threatens these services, with far-reaching consequences for both nature and society.

Impacts on vital ecosystem functions

• Primary productivity - Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can reduce plant growth, affecting food chains and agricultural yields.
• Flood control - Altered weather patterns and deforestation due to climate stress diminish natural barriers against flooding, increasing risks to human settlements.
• Climate regulation - Damage to forests and wetlands, which act as carbon sinks, reduces their ability to regulate global temperatures, creating a feedback loop that worsens climate change.
• Broader implications - The loss of these services affects water purification, soil fertility, and biodiversity, all of which are essential for sustaining life and economic activities in many regions.