Urgency of Public Health Solutions
According to the World Health Organization, there is a general consensus amongst scientists that climate change is a major scientific and medical challenge. Climate change threatens the lives and health of countless people, coastal cities and local economies(26). Goal 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that climate risks are appearing faster and will become more severe sooner than previously expected, and it will be harder to adapt with increased global heating(27,28). These challenges created by the climate crisis intertwine with demographic, socio-economic, and environmental factors, influencing both the magnitude and the pattern of risks.(29).With the rise in global temperatures, heatwaves, droughts, and other adverse conditions of the weather with a corresponding rise in illnesses of concern. Health repercussions arising from climate change encompass heat stress, communicable diseases, air pollution, inadequate food and water security, extreme weather occurrences, malnutrition, stress, mental health challenges, vulnerable shelter, and population migration, among other factors(30). Workplace hazards linked to climate change consist of elevated ambient temperature, air pollution, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, severe weather conditions, and the spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, accompanied by the expansion of habitats.(30–32)Researchers worldwide have warned of the intensification and severity of various drastic climatic impacts especially on the health of individuals affected by this crisis.(26) .Case studies conducted by Ebi et al., 2017 using scientific methods show it is plausible that a proportion of the current burden of climate-sensitive health outcomes can be attributed to climate change. Effective policy measures in the forthcoming years are imperative for achieving these internationally endorsed goals, focusing on decarbonizing the economy and fortifying resilience against the challenges posed by a progressively warmer and more extreme climate. Despite notable strides, public health still lags, particularly when considering the gravity of the crisis we currently face(34). Years of gains in the public health sector is now threatened by the change in these climatic conditions and hence the need to work earnestly to limit global emissions and keep it to the threshold as ratified by the countries in the Paris Agreement of 2015(35). Emerging health complications related to changing climate can be minimized and avoidedvia effective mitigation and adaptation strategies(31). Despite the numerous monetary pledges made by the world moguls which in itself is the first step and the ratification of documents by different countries signatory to different conventions as well as the determined contributions of the different nationalities to the fight against the climate crisis, there is the need for implementation of the contents of these documents and redemption of the pledges. It is essential for health professionals, especially emergency clinicians, to confront the intersection of climate and health. This entails actively participating in the assessment, intervention, management, evaluation, education, and referral processes for individuals presenting to emergency departments with potential climate-related health impacts(36). Disparities in vulnerability across various regions are intricately linked to a nation’s, region’s, and locality’s ability to manage and prepare for the consequences of climate change. This is intricately tied to economic conditions, social stability, and the availability and prioritization of resources for health systems. Additionally, global risks are not evenly distributed, with their impact shaped by the levels of social and economic development and the quality and accessibility of healthcare. The advent of climate change is poised to heighten existing health challenges and inequalities, creating wider gaps between regions, within nations, and among diverse population segments. Particularly at risk are vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those managing conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lung disease, and mental illness.(29,37)