Understanding the Climate-Health Connection
Climate change, the biggest global threat of the 21stCentury imperils the health and well-being of individuals worldwide,
transcending geographical boundaries and indiscriminately affecting both
the Global North and South and increases the global burden of disease.
(12,13). Climate change, with its mix of health risks, could roll back
the progress we have made in public health and sustainable
development(13). Empirical evidence points to coal combustion for
electricity as a catalyst for more than 200,000 global fatalities
annually(14). It interacts with multiple dimensions and transcends the
borders of physical, mental, and psychological health (15,16). This
pervasive threat despite the increasing evidence with significant
inactions exacerbate existing health challenges and introduce novel
public health complexities through diverse pathways. Adger et al.,
2022indicated climate change manifests its impact on individual
well-being through three iterative and interlinked pathways: firstly,
material circumstances encompassing infrastructure and ecosystems when
affected leave affected individuals in depressed states. These collapsed
structures attract mass migrations of several harmful organisms like
mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rats for survival and fecundity(17);
secondly, heightened awareness of the climate crisis through various
media outlets induces “eco-anxiety” or “climate anxiety” ultimately,
mental distress(15), shattering dreams and aspirations; and lastly,
policy responses, including “green fiscal policies”, moral suasion,
and regulations, play a pivotal role in shaping the overall impact on
individuals as far as climate change is concerned. The 2021 Lancet
report unveils an alarming escalation in the health ramifications of
climate change, underscoring the immediate health consequences resulting
from the delayed and inconsistent responses of countries worldwide. This
underscores a compelling imperative for expeditious action prioritizing
the health of both individuals and the planet above all other
considerations. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), an extensive
3.6 billion individuals currently inhabit regions significantly
predisposed to climate change. Forecasts between 2030 and 2050 suggest
an anticipated annual increase of approximately 250,000 deaths
attributable exclusively to undernutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat
stress induced by the effects of climate change. The adverse impact of
climate change on global health is already evident, contributing to
unfavorable health outcomes worldwide, and is anticipated to persist in
the future. The World Meteorological agents and Copernicus Climate
Change Services indicated that Global temperatures shattered previous
climate records and reached exceptionally high levels in 2023 with a 1.4
degrees Celsius rise above pre-industrial baseline. These heat waves and
hot temperatures lead to dehydration, haemoconcentration,
hypercoagulability, sympathetic activation, and inflammatory mediators
which lead to cardiovascular problems including ischaemic heart
diseases, stroke, and heart failure (18). Malnutrition and diarrhoea
caused by food insecurity and floods in different localities in the
world are all impacts of the climate change despite the fact that some
of these challenges are being alleviated due to improved health systems
particularly in African countries(19). Inflammation, Oxidative stress,
and impaired Immune system function of the lungs are respiratory
problems caused by air pollution.(20,21). Infectious diseases
demonstrate a discernible correlation with alterations in temperature,
precipitation, and humidity, particularly influencing vector-borne
diseases. These climatic changes contribute to the proliferation of
vectors, such as mosquitoes, responsible for diseases like malaria and
dengue fever(22).The imperative for health professionals to assume a
more robust role in confronting climate change is evident by making
health workers understand climate change as a health issue thus
identifying the interconnectedness and communicating this in the most
effective way to the entire populace thus affecting the manner in which
the message is received and utilized(23). However, the exploration of
how these professionals perceive climate change and climate action
remains conspicuously underrepresented in academic literature,
warranting a focused inquiry into this critical aspect.