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.