The Impact of Climate Change on Your Health: What You Need to Know

Published on: Jan 25, 2025
Emily Beyda

WRITTEN BY

Emily Beyda

Key Takeaways

  • Climate change has multifaceted and profound impacts on human health, ranging from vector-borne diseases to respiratory diseases. 

  • Rising temperatures, increased air pollution, and extreme weather events all exacerbate health conditions, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations.

  • Global efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change may be able to reduce its impacts on human health.

When we think of climate change, we tend to focus on its environmental impacts, but climate change is also a significant contributor to the global health crisis. Climate change and public health are closely linked by effects of global warming like shifting global temperatures, diminished air quality, extreme weather events, and altered ecosystems. All of these concerns may be linked to environmental health, but directly impact human health, especially when it comes to health equity. In this article, we’ll examine the way climate change impacts health risks and highlight the need for immediate climate action.

How Climate Change Affects Health

1. Rising Temperatures and Heat-Related Illnesses

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global temperatures have risen by about 1.1°C since pre-industrial times.1 The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and extreme heat due to this rising temperature includes an increase in heat-related illness and deaths. For example, the extreme weather of a 2003 heatwave in Europe caused health effects including over 70,000 deaths, mostly among vulnerable populations of elderly people.2

2. Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases

Global climate change makes air pollution worse since it increases the amount of emissions like emissions like ground-level ozone and particulate matter. According to the World Health Organization, in 2015, air pollution contributed to 4.2 million premature deaths around the world.3 This is because bad air quality is linked to health outcomes including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

3. Vector-Borne Diseases

One of the major health impacts caused by warmer temperatures and altered precipitation are health threats posed by disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes as their habitats expand. For example, the geographic range of Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, has expanded significantly over the past decades as the changing climate increases their habitat, posing health risks to the public and increasing the need for disease control.4 As the climate crisis worsens, diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Lyme disease are also spreading to new regions.

4. Food and Water Insecurity

Aside from increasing the risk of chronic disease, the climate impact on food and water insecurity is significant, causing increased risk of famine and drought. As climate risk impacts water water resources and agriculture, malnutrition and an increase of waterborne diseases also grow. In regions like sub-Saharan Africa, climate variability has increased malnutrition rates as droughts and floods disrupt food production.5

5. Mental Health Impacts

One of the behavioral health impacts of climate change is the psychological impact of extreme weather events such as hurricanes and wildfires, which can cause people who live through them to develop anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For example, communities affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 reported a significant rise in mental health disorders.6

6. Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Infectious diseases have been emerging, and re-emerging, as climate change and increased greenhouse gas emissions cause favorable conditions for their spread. Cholera outbreaks in parts of Africa and South Asia have been linked to heavy rainfall and flooding caused by climate adaptation.4

7. Cardiovascular Diseases

As carbon emissions cause temperatures to rise, vulnerable populations are exposed to heat stress, which can increase. the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Heat can exacerbate conditions like hypertension and trigger events such as heart attacks.7

8. Displacement and Health Challenges

As extreme weather events and rising sea levels displace communities, local health departments and health system officials will struggle with health care challenges like overcrowded living conditions, poor sanitation, and limited access to healthcare. Refugee populations are especially at risk for infectious diseases and malnutrition.8

Health professionals warn that all of these effects may have more of an impact on vulnerable groups like children, elderly, and low income communities. Childhood and adolescent health is more at risk from heat stress, malnutrition, and respiratory diseases, which all impact family health. The elderly are at higher risk of heat-related illnesses and chronic conditions worsened by air pollution. Lastly, low income communities of all ages have limited access to healthcare and resources to increase climate resilience.

Case Studies: Health Impacts Worldwide

1. India: Heatwaves and Heat Stress

India experiences some of the world’s most severe heatwaves. According to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, a 2015 heatwave resulted in 2,300 deaths, underscoring the vulnerability of outdoor workers and urban populations without access to cooling.9

2. Africa: Malaria Spread

Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns in sub-Saharan Africa, have expanded malaria transmission zones. Malaria cases increased in highland regions previously unaffected by the disease between 1970 and 2010 as average temperatures increased.10

3. United States: Wildfires and Respiratory Illnesses

 The 2018 Camp Fire in California is an example of how wildfires in the western United States, intensified by drought and heat, have caused spikes in respiratory diseases. A surge of emergency room visits followed the fire, due to victims’ prolonged exposure to smoke.11

4. Pacific Islands: Rising Sea Levels and Waterborne Diseases

Rising sea levels in Pacific island nations have caused increased contamination of freshwater supplies, leading to increased levels of diarrheal diseases for natives including the Tuvalu, who face ongoing challenges in securing clean drinking water.12

5. Europe: Flooding and Waterborne Diseases

Massive flooding in Central Europe in 2002 highlighted the vulnerability of urban areas to climate-related flooding and contamination. After the flood, the region faced outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as leptospirosis.13

6. Australia: Heatwaves and Mental Health

Australia’s increasingly intense heatwaves cause heat stress, and also impact mental health. According to one study, the 2009 heatwave in Victoria resulted in a noticeable increase in emergency calls related to mental health crises.14

7. Bangladesh: Cyclones and Public Health

After being displaced by Cyclone Aila in 2009, millions of people suffered from widespread outbreaks of diarrhea and respiratory illnesses caused by contaminated water and overcrowded shelters.15

8. Arctic: Melting Permafrost and Emerging Pathogens

As permafrost thaws in the Arctic, long-dormant pathogens are being released. In 2016, there was an anthrax outbreak in Siberia linked to thawing carcasses, which affected dozens of people and livestock, showcasing the risks posed by climate-induced changes to ecosystems.16

Future Projections and Technological Interventions

Experts predict that the frequency and intensity of climate-related health crises will increase over the next decade. Rising global temperatures are expected to exacerbate existing health disparities, especially in low-income and climate-vulnerable regions.

The geographic spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue will likely expand further into temperate zones as climates change. Heatwaves could lead to a significant increase in heat-related deaths, particularly among the elderly. And climate-driven disruptions in agriculture and freshwater supplies will likely heighten the risk of malnutrition and waterborne diseases, especially in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Combating Health Impacts

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a useful tool in addressing the health impacts of climate change. Here are some ways AI could help:

  • Predictive Analytics:

    AI models can analyze climate and health data to predict disease outbreaks, making early intervention possible. For example, machine learning algorithms have been used to forecast malaria transmission zones.17

  • Disaster Response:

    During extreme weather events, AI-powered systems can optimize emergency responses by identifying at-risk populations and streamlining resource distribution.18

  • Healthcare Innovation:

    AI tools are improving air quality monitoring and forecasting, aiding in the prevention of respiratory diseases.19 These innovations highlight the way that AI can design climate-resilient healthcare systems by assessing vulnerabilities and proposing adaptive measures.

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

To address the health impacts of climate change, we’ll need coordinated global action.

We can mitigate climate change risks by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable transportation. We can adapt to changing temperatures by strengthening healthcare systems, improving early warning systems for extreme weather, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure. And we can raise public awareness, educating communities about climate risks and health adaptation strategies.

Together, all of these strategies can help ease the health impacts caused by a changing climate.

Conclusion

The health impacts of climate change are far-reaching and demand urgent attention. By understanding these challenges, and implementing proactive measures, we can protect vulnerable populations and build resilience to challenging climate conditions. Immediate action is essential to safeguard global health and mitigate future risks. We cannot afford to delay action on critical climate justice measures.

References:

  1. IPCC. (2021). "Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis." Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

  2. Robine, J. M., et al. (2008). "Death toll exceeded 70,000 in Europe during the summer of 2003." Comptes Rendus Biologies, 331(2).

  3. WHO. (2016). "Ambient Air Pollution: A Global Assessment." World Health Organization.

  4. Patz, J. A., et al. (2005). "Climate change and infectious diseases." Nature Reviews Microbiology, 3(11).

  5. Ebi, K. L., et al. (2018). "Health risks of warming of 1.5°C." Environmental Research Letters, 13(3). 

  6. Kessler, R. C., et al. (2008). "Trends in mental illness and suicidality after Hurricane Katrina." Molecular Psychiatry, 13(4).

  7. Schwartz, Brian D. et al (2010 “When and Why Do Heart Attacks Occur? Cardiovascular Triggers and Their Potential Role”  Hospital Practice, 3(38).

  8. Watts, N., et al. (2018). "The 2018 report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change." The Lancet, 392(10163).

  9. UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Heatwaves: Addressing a Sweltering Risk in Asia Pacific 

  10. Siraj, A. S., et al. (2014). "Altitudinal changes in malaria incidence in highlands of Ethiopia and Colombia." Science, 343(6175).

  11. Reid, C. E., et al. (2019). "Critical Review of Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke Exposure." Current Environmental Health Reports, 6(1).

  12. McIver, L., et al. (2016). "Health impacts of climate change in Pacific island countries: A Regional Assessment of Vulnerabilities and Adaptation Priorities." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(12).

  13. Schär, C., et al. (2004). "Climate dynamics and extreme precipitation and flood events in Central Europe." Environmental Health Perspectives, 112(10).

  14. Nitschke, M., et al. (2011). "The effect of heat waves on mental health in a temperate Australian city." Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(2).

  15. Bhunia, Rama et al. (2011) “Waterborne cholera outbreak following Cyclone Aila in Sundarban area of West Bengal, India, 2009.” Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 105(4).

  16. Revich, B., & Podolnaya, M. (2011). "Thawing of permafrost may disturb historic cattle burial grounds in East Siberia." Global Health Action, 4(1).

  17. Sadiq et al. (2024) “Machine learning models for predicting residual malaria infections using environmental factors: A case study of the Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Decoding Infection and Transmission, 2.

  18. WMO. (2022). "AI in disaster response." World Meteorological Organization.

  19. WHO. (2022). "AI applications in public health." World Health Organization.

About the Author

Written by:

Emily Beyda, MFA

Emily Beyda is a novelist, journalist, copywriter, and brand strategist. A graduate of NYU's Global Studies program with an MFA from Texas State, she's passionate about the power of prose to build bridges and create connections.

Emily Beyda

Emily Beyda, MFA

Contributor

Education: Texas State University, MFA

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