Climate change impacts human health in several ways and at different levels. It affects the conditions for a healthy life (e.g., food production), poses direct and indirect health threats (e.g., heat waves and water security) that lead to increased burden on healthcare. It is a matter of systemic change, to which the various actors in society must actively adapt their activities. It can be argued that the future of those children born today will be increasingly affected by more severe climate change -related stressors, inclusive of extreme heat and other severe weather conditions (air and water pollution), but also with decreasing resources for healthcare due to aging societies. In addition, in 2018 the healthcare sector itself was causing about 5% of worldwide greenhouse emissions and thus, sustainability of healthcare production must also be reconstructed. Based on this assertion, adaptive and corrective actions regarding links between climate change and health and health care systems need to be more actively considered to protect and nurture a healthier and more sustainable future for our societies.
Original research on climate change and health has increased 11-fold between the years of 2007 and 2020. There are several studies reporting health effects of climate change as well as policies either proposed or enacted to tackle these unfortunate effects. As a recent example, WHO’s Health in the Green Economy sector briefings reported the health impacts of climate change mitigation in several sectors, like transport, housing, healthcare facilities, and occupational health. By 2020, about half of all countries had drawn up at least some kind of climate change and adaptation plan, however, the funding of these adaptation plans is unfortunately minimal, and there is an immediate need to better implement these plans leading to practical real-life actions, and these actions need to be based on scientific evidence.
Frontiers in Climate is launching a Research Topic to highlight studies which have provided data about Climate Change and Health and help in decision making. The Research Topic aims to accrue submission on themes including but not limited to:
• Implementing corrective health policies and strategies related to climate change and health: best practices
• Based on research results adopt strategies for health promotion and climate change mitigation in health and social care
• Research based mitigation strategies and practical examples of these actions for health and social care sector
• Learning from severe weather conditions and mitigation strategies for injuries, fatalities/NCD, mental health impacts
• Water quality problems research and reduce the effect of pathogens like cholera, cryptosporidiosis etc.
• Lessons learned from climate change impacts on food supply: how to prevent and reduce malnutrition, and promote sustainable and healthy diets in changing environments
• Environmental degradation studies and strategies to prepare for forced migration
• Research related to changes in vector ecology and strategies to mitigate the impact of malaria, dengue, tick-borne diseases etc.
Climate change impacts human health in several ways and at different levels. It affects the conditions for a healthy life (e.g., food production), poses direct and indirect health threats (e.g., heat waves and water security) that lead to increased burden on healthcare. It is a matter of systemic change, to which the various actors in society must actively adapt their activities. It can be argued that the future of those children born today will be increasingly affected by more severe climate change -related stressors, inclusive of extreme heat and other severe weather conditions (air and water pollution), but also with decreasing resources for healthcare due to aging societies. In addition, in 2018 the healthcare sector itself was causing about 5% of worldwide greenhouse emissions and thus, sustainability of healthcare production must also be reconstructed. Based on this assertion, adaptive and corrective actions regarding links between climate change and health and health care systems need to be more actively considered to protect and nurture a healthier and more sustainable future for our societies.
Original research on climate change and health has increased 11-fold between the years of 2007 and 2020. There are several studies reporting health effects of climate change as well as policies either proposed or enacted to tackle these unfortunate effects. As a recent example, WHO’s Health in the Green Economy sector briefings reported the health impacts of climate change mitigation in several sectors, like transport, housing, healthcare facilities, and occupational health. By 2020, about half of all countries had drawn up at least some kind of climate change and adaptation plan, however, the funding of these adaptation plans is unfortunately minimal, and there is an immediate need to better implement these plans leading to practical real-life actions, and these actions need to be based on scientific evidence.
Frontiers in Climate is launching a Research Topic to highlight studies which have provided data about Climate Change and Health and help in decision making. The Research Topic aims to accrue submission on themes including but not limited to:
• Implementing corrective health policies and strategies related to climate change and health: best practices
• Based on research results adopt strategies for health promotion and climate change mitigation in health and social care
• Research based mitigation strategies and practical examples of these actions for health and social care sector
• Learning from severe weather conditions and mitigation strategies for injuries, fatalities/NCD, mental health impacts
• Water quality problems research and reduce the effect of pathogens like cholera, cryptosporidiosis etc.
• Lessons learned from climate change impacts on food supply: how to prevent and reduce malnutrition, and promote sustainable and healthy diets in changing environments
• Environmental degradation studies and strategies to prepare for forced migration
• Research related to changes in vector ecology and strategies to mitigate the impact of malaria, dengue, tick-borne diseases etc.
