Abstract
Climate change has altered global to local weather patterns and increased sea levels, and it will continue to do so. Average temperatures, precipitation amounts, and other variables such as humidity levels are all rising. In addition, weather variability is increasing, causing, for example, a greater number of heat waves, many of which are more intense and last longer, and more floods and droughts. These changes are collectively increasing the number of injuries, illnesses, and deaths from a wide range of climate-sensitive health outcomes. Future health risks will be determined not just by the hazards created by a changing climate but also by the sensitivity of individuals and communities exposed to these hazards and the capacity of health systems to prepare for and effectively manage the attendant risks. These risks include deaths and injuries from extreme events (for example, heat waves, storms, and floods), infectious diseases (including food-, water-, and vectorborne illnesses), and food and water insecurity. These risks are unevenly distributed and both create new inequities and exacerbate those that already exist. Most of these risks are projected to increase with each additional unit of warming. Using an equity lens to move beyond incremental to transformational resilience would reduce vulnerability and improve sustainability for all, but substantial additional funding is required for proactive and effective actions by the health system.
Highlights
Climate change has altered global to local weather patterns and increased sea levels, and it will continue to do so
Future health risks will be determined not just by the hazards created by a changing climate and by the sensitivity of individuals and communities exposed to these hazards and the capacity of health systems to prepare for and effectively manage the attendant risks
In this article we review the health risks of a changing climate from an equity lens, discuss the transformational resilience needed to prepare for and manage a very different future, and provide concluding comments
Summary
Analogous, if not more profound, challenges to population health and society.Without proactive actions to prepare for and manage climate change, the burdens of ill health are projected to increase during the coming decades, with sustained detrimental impacts.[5] The greatest health harms will continue to be seen in populations where exposure and susceptibility are high and in countries that have contributed the least greenhouse gas emissions.[5] Climate change invokes deep ethical concerns over equity in impacts and responsibilities. In this article we review the health risks of a changing climate from an equity lens, discuss the transformational resilience needed to prepare for and manage a very different future, and provide concluding comments
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