The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified climate change as the most significant health threat facing humanity. The impacts of climate change on health are broad and multifaceted, affecting essential elements for good health such as clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. These impacts undermine decades of progress in global health efforts.
Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, storms, and floods, are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, leading to increased mortality and illness. These events can disrupt food systems, increase the spread of infectious diseases, and cause mental health issues. For instance, between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress.
The WHO also highlights that climate change exacerbates noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which already account for 74% of all deaths globally. Climate-sensitive health risks, such as those from air pollution, heatwaves, and natural disasters, disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including those in low-income countries who have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions.
Addressing climate change requires comprehensive actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience in health systems. The WHO advocates for measures such as transitioning to clean energy, promoting sustainable transportation, and ensuring food security, which can provide significant health benefits while combating climate change.
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Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.
