Climate change not only poses a substantial risk to our environment but also to global health. With the world struggling to cope with the consequences of climate change, a health crisis is on the horizon unless significant action is taken to reduce our emissions. Therefore, gaining a deeper understanding of the effects of climate change on health and well-being is vital for creating effective strategies that mitigate risks and safeguard vulnerable populations.
Climate change affects several factors that determine people's health, including clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. It contributes to death and illness through:
Additionally, it undermines the social determinants of good health, including livelihoods, equality, and access to healthcare and social support structures.
It is estimated that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will result in approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. Heat-related deaths are predicted to triple by 2050, and air pollution, a significant contributor to climate change, is already responsible for 7 million premature deaths each year. By 2030, the direct damage to health caused by climate change is projected to cost between USD 2-4 billion annually, excluding costs in sectors like agriculture and water and sanitation.
The climate crisis endangers the past fifty years of progress in development, global health, and poverty reduction and widens existing health inequalities within and between populations. It also puts the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC) at risk by intensifying the existing disease burden and exacerbating barriers to accessing health services when they are most needed.
To avoid catastrophic health impacts and millions of climate change-related deaths, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that the world must limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. However, even a global temperature increase of 1.5°C is not considered safe, with each additional tenth of a degree of warming significantly impacting people's health and lives.
By embracing tools like FutureTracker, you can be part of the solution, not the problem. FutureTracker is designed to help businesses like yours measure, manage, and minimise their environmental impact, leading to the emissions reduction that our planet so desperately needs.
You can learn more about FutureTracker by clicking here to access our free information packet and demo video. You can also get in touch with us directly to discuss tailored consultancy and other services by emailing enquiries@futuretracker.com
