The tight relationship between altering weather events and their effects on people’s health was recently documented in depth in a Lancet article.
The News—
The world’s reliance on fossil fuels raises the risk of disease, food insecurity, and other ailments associated to heat, according to the 2022 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: Health at the Mercy of Fossil Fuels.
Impact
(1) Extreme Events
- Heatwaves: According to a Lancet analysis, the number of heatwave days experienced by vulnerable groups (adults over 65 and children under 1) was 3.7 billion more in 2021 than it was in each year from 1986 to 2005.
- Change in patterns: There is no question that climate change is a direct cause of catastrophes like floods, droughts, and repeated cyclones.
(2) Impact on health
- Infectious diseases: The transmission of infectious diseases is being impacted by climate change, increasing the likelihood of emerging diseases and co-epidemics. For instance, Vibrio infections are becoming better suited for transmission in coastal waters.
- More vector-borne diseases: In the highland regions of the Americas and Africa, the number of months conducive to malaria transmission has increased.
- The WHO estimates that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will result in an additional 2,50,000 deaths year from hunger, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress.
- Among others: poor air quality and an increase in zoonotic infections.
(3) Food security
- Crop loss: As temperatures rise, crop yields are directly threatened since many cereal crops’ growing seasons are shortened.
- Disruptions to supply chains: Extreme weather conditions compromise food availability, access, stability, and utilisation.
- Malnutrition: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of undernourishment increased, and up to 161 million more people experienced hunger in 2020 than in 2019.
@the-end
- An chance to offer a healthy, low-carbon future exists with a health-centered approach to the converging crises of the environment, energy, and cost of living.
- Identification of the issue: The research emphasises that the governments’ commitment to evaluating and addressing the challenges posed by climate change is encouraging.
- Holistic strategy: A health-centered solution would function in this way; it would lessen the possibility of the worst effects of climate change while enhancing energy security and opening up opportunities for economic recovery.
- Change in eating habits: The research also advocates for an expedited shift to balanced, more plant-based diets, as this would help cut down on emissions from the production of red meat and milk and prevent deaths linked to food.
- Easing healthcare: The report places a strong emphasis on easing the burden on healthcare professionals and fostering the development of stronger healthcare systems.