Chapter 1 - Overview of climate change, air pollution, and human health

Abstract

Climate change and air pollution are the two biggest challenges in the twenty-first century. The health impacts of air pollution have long been recognized, followed by the emerging climate change topic, which have aroused massive debate among both scientists and common residents. Accumulating evidence has shown that climate change and air pollution pose multiple health threats to human through complex and interacting pathways. This chapter briefly summarizes the documented health effects of climate change and air pollution, and the underlying linkage and interaction, as well as some issues that need to be addressed in future research and policy-making practice.