Climate Change and Health: An Urgent Call for Action Amid a Growing Crisis

Actions (and inactions) can have detrimental effects on our health and the health of future generations. This is especially applicable within the interplay of climate change and health. By 2050, climate change is expected to put significant pressure on global healthcare systems, resulting in “14.5 million deaths and $12.5 trillion in economic losses”
[1].

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which hosts around 500 million people from different cultures, is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change [2].

What is Climate Change?

Climate change refers to the rapid shifts in Earth’s climate caused by human activities, particularly greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes, transportation, agriculture, and the energy sector [3]. Populations with the smallest role in triggering climate change are disproportionately bearing its impacts [3]. In 2023, global temperatures reached a record high, with the average near-surface temperature reaching 1.45 ± 0.12 °C above the pre-industrial baseline [4]. Notably, the 10-year period from 2014 to 2023 holds the highest average global temperature, at 1.20 ± 0.12 °C above the pre-industrial level [4]. The MENA region already has very high temperatures, which are expected to rise by up to 4°C by 2050 [2]. This region contains most of the water-stressed countries globally. Water supply restrictions and rationing have become a pressing reality across parts of Algeria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, and Jordan [2].

How does climate change affect health?

Climate change affects health both directly through extreme weather events and pollution, and indirectly by altering upstream determinants like the environment, access to healthcare, and nutrition [5]. The 2023 Lancet report on health and climate change indicates that heat-related deaths among those over 65 rose by 85% in 2020 compared to 1990-2000, far exceeding the anticipated 38% increase had temperatures stayed stable [6]. Heatwaves are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly due to cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, and respiratory conditions [7]. By the end of the 21st century, the MENA region is expected to record 123.4 annual deaths due to heat-related problems per 100,000 people if emissions remain high [8]. However, this would be decreased by greater than 80% if global warming doesn’t exceed 2°C [8]. This is critical as the MENA region hosts many laborers working in the informal sector, with limited access to air conditioners.

Air pollution, closely linked with climate change, has severe health consequences, including lung cancer, asthma, strokes, and heart disease [9]. Both air pollution and climate change stem from a common source, emissions [10]. At the same time, the changes in weather conditions can affect air quality by increasing and spreading air pollutants, such as fine particulates, dust, and fire smoke [11].

Concurrently, the ecosystems that people rely on to be healthy are negatively affected by climate change. For example, extreme drought affected 47% of the global landscape by 2022, threatening access to water, hygiene, and food cultivation [6]. Consequently, millions are at risk of malnutrition, particularly those in the MENA region, where over 82 percent of the land is desert, and rising temperatures would intensify this challenge [2]. Moreover, the changing temperature and rainfall patterns create favorable conditions for infectious diseases spread, particularly those transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks (e.g. malaria, West Nile virus…) [6].

Climate change impacts not only physical health but also mental well-being. Studies have demonstrated that increasing temperatures and extreme weather conditions exacerbate existing mental health conditions, contributing to a higher prevalence of disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. [ 3, 12–14].

Susceptible Groups

While the impacts of climate change can affect everyone, certain groups are more vulnerable due to pre-existing conditions and structural and social inequities. These groups include the elderly, children, natives, women (particularly pregnant women), individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, coastal residents, farmers, outdoor workers, and those lacking safe housing or with a disadvantaged socioeconomic status [5].

Climate Change and Conflict: A Vicious Cycle

Communities, particularly in conflict-affected areas, are disproportionately impacted by climate change and are often trapped in a cycle of violence, vulnerability, and worsening climate impacts. Climate change exacerbates the scarcity of vital resources such as food, water, and fertile land, which becomes a major driver of competition and conflict [5, 15]. In turn, conflict weakens communities’ capability to adapt to or recover from climate-related disasters. Conflict-related displacement is often prolonged and worsened by extreme weather events, like droughts or floods, leading to further population displacement [4].This cycle deepens vulnerability, as conflict-affected communities experience economic downturns and poverty, reducing their capacity to withstand climate shocks [15]. For example, in 2019, 90% of severe nutrition emergencies occurred in conflict-affected regions like Yemen, South Sudan, Syria, and Afghanistan, where food crises worsened due to climate-related extreme weather conditions [16].

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: A Global Health Opportunity

To effectively address climate change, a proactive and holistic One Health approach that considers the interrelationship between animal, plant, human, and ecosystem health, needs to be implemented [17]. Actions that can be taken to mitigate and adapt to climate change carry several health benefits that can motivate individuals, communities, and policymakers. Climate solutions, including the shift to clean and renewable energy sources, walking and biking instead of driving cars, reflect positively on the health and well-being of communities [5].

Additionally, the health sector contributes to about 5% of worldwide emissions, placing health organizations in a crucial position to move to clean energy and adopt climate solutions [5]. These would provide two main benefits: (1) reduced global emissions and (2) improved capacity to respond to the health drawbacks of extreme weather events and other health emergencies [5, 18]. In addition, to adapt to climate change, health systems can improve their preparedness for emergencies, educate the public about climate change effects and solutions, and develop early warning systems [5].

To this end, climate action offers substantial benefits for the economy, the environment, and public health. Although the solutions are there, we need to advocate and call for immediate action before it is too late.

References

  1. World Economic Forum, “Quantifying the Impact of Climate Change on Human Health,” January 16, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.weforum.org/publications/quantifying-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-human-health/
  2. K. Kim and T. Ferré Garcia. “The MENA Region Is Headed for More Insecurity Due to Climate Change. Can This Be Mitigated?” IPI Global Observatory. https://theglobalobservatory.org/2024/01/the-mena-region-is-headed-for-more-insecurity-due-to-climate-change-can-this-be-mitigated/ (accessed 2024).
  3. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “IPCC, 2023: Summary for Policymakers,” in “Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report,” Geneva, Switzerland, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_SPM.pdf
  4. World Meteorological Organization, “State of the Global Climate 2023,” Geneva, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://library.wmo.int/idurl/4/68835
  5. World Health Organization, “Communicating on climate change and health: Toolkit for health professionals,” Geneva, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240090224
  6. M. Romanello et al., “The 2023 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: The imperative for a health-centred response in a world facing irreversible harms,” (in English), The Lancet (British edition), vol. 402, no. 10419, pp. 2346-2394, 2023, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01859-7.
  7. F. S. Arsad et al., “The Impact of Heatwaves on Mortality and Morbidity and the Associated Vulnerability Factors: A Systematic Review,” (in eng), International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 23, Dec 6 2022, doi: 10.3390/ijerph192316356.
  8. S. Hajat, Y. Proestos, J. L. Araya Lopez, T. Economou, and J. Lelieveld, “Current and future trends in heat-related mortality in the MENA region: A health impact assessment with bias-adjusted statistically downscaled CMIP6 (SSP-based) data and Bayesian inference,” The Lancet Planetary Health, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. e282-e290, 2023, doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00045-1.
  9. World Health Organization. “Billions of people still breathe unhealthy air: New WHO data.” https://www.who.int/news/item/04-04-2022-billions-of-people-still-breathe-unhealthy-air-new-who-data (accessed August 28, 2024).
  10. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. “Air Pollution and Your Health.” https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution (accessed August 28, 2024).
  11. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. “Health Impacts of Air Quality.” https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/climatechange/health_impacts/asthma (accessed August 28, 2024).
  12. E. L. Lawrance, R. Thompson, J. Newberry Le Vay, L. Page, and N. Jennings, “The Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence, and its Implications,” International Review of Psychiatry, vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 443-498, 2022/07/04 2022, doi: 10.1080/09540261.2022.2128725.
  13. A. Walinski, J. Sander, G. Gerlinger, V. Clemens, A. Meyer-Lindenberg, and A. Heinz, “The Effects of Climate Change on Mental Health,” (in eng), Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, vol. 120, no. 8, pp. 117-124, Feb 24 2023, doi: 10.3238/arztebl.m2022.0403.
  14. A. Novotney. “How does climate change affect mental health?” American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/climate-change/mental-health-effects (accessed August 28, 2024).
  15. H. Buhaug and N. von Uexkull, “Vicious Circles: Violence, Vulnerability, and Climate Change,” (in English), Annual Review of Environment and Resources, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 545-568, 2021, doi: 10.1146/annurev-environ-012220-014708.
  16. Food Security Information Network, “2020 Global Report on Food Crises,” 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.fsinplatform.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/GRFC_2020_ONLINE_200420.pdf
  17. R. Zhang et al., “From concept to action: A united, holistic and One Health approach to respond to the climate change crisis,” Infectious Diseases of Poverty, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 17, 2022/02/10 2022, doi: 10.1186/s40249-022-00941-9.
  18. M. Romanello et al., “The 2022 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Health at the mercy of fossil fuels,” The Lancet, vol. 400, no. 10363, pp. 1619-1654, 2022/11/05/ 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01540-9.