Climate change has an impact on the social and environmental determinants of health, such as clean air, safe drinking water, enough food, and safe shelter. Climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress. The direct health damage costs are estimated to be between USD 2-4 billion per year by 2030. Areas with poor health infrastructure, primarily in developing countries, will be the least able to prepare and respond without assistance. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through better transportation, food, and energy choices can improve health, particularly through reduced air pollution. In this article, we will discuss Climate Change and Health which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Climate Change - Biggest Health Threat

• Climate change is the single greatest health threat confronting humanity, and health professionals all over the world are already responding to the health consequences of this unfolding crisis.
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that the world must limit temperature rise to 1.5°C to avoid catastrophic health effects and prevent millions of climate change-related deaths.
• Past emissions have already rendered a certain level of global temperature rise and other climate changes unavoidable.
• Even 1.5°C of global warming is not considered safe; every additional tenth of a degree of warming will have a serious impact on people's lives and health.
• The climate crisis threatens to undo the last fifty years of development, global health, and poverty reduction progress, as well as to exacerbate existing health disparities between and within populations.
• It jeopardizes the realization of universal health coverage (UHC) in a variety of ways, including by compounding the existing disease burden and exacerbating existing barriers to accessing health services, often at the most critical times.
• Over 930 million people, or about 12% of the world's population, spend at least 10% of their household budget on health care.
• With the poorest people largely uninsured, health shocks and stresses already push around 100 million people into poverty each year, with the effects of climate change exacerbated.

Climate Sensitive Health Risks

• Climate change is already having an impact on health in a variety of ways, including the increased frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, storms, and floods, the disruption of food systems, increases in zoonoses and food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases, and mental health issues.
• Furthermore, climate change is undermining many of the social determinants of health, including employment, equality, access to health care, and social support structures.
• Women, children, poor communities, migrants or displaced persons, older populations, and those with underlying health conditions are disproportionately affected by these climate-sensitive health risks.
• Although it is undeniable that climate change has an impact on human health, accurately estimating the scale and impact of many climate-sensitive health risks remains difficult.
• However, scientific advances are gradually allowing us to attribute an increase in morbidity and mortality to human-caused warming, as well as more accurately determine the risks and magnitude of these health threats.

Impact of Climate Change on Human Health

Water Problem and Risk of Waterborne Diseases

• Water-borne diseases are climate-sensitive and exhibit seasonal variation. During the rainy season, diarrheal diseases are more common.
• Climate change's increasingly variable rainfall patterns are likely to have an impact on fresh water supply. Water scarcity already affects four out of every ten people worldwide.
• A lack of safe water can jeopardise hygiene and increase the risk of diarrhoeal diseases (which kill about 2.2 million people each year), trachoma (an eye infection that can lead to blindness), and other illnesses.
• People are compelled to transport water over long distances and store supplies in their homes. Household water storage can increase the risk of water contamination. Water scarcity can lead to drought and famine in extreme cases.
• Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of drought on a regional and global scale by the late twenty-first century.
• Floods are becoming more frequent and intense. Flooding pollutes freshwater supplies and raises the risk of water-borne diseases.
• Drought and flooding are both risk factors for water-borne diseases (cholera, and various diarrhoeal diseases). Leptospirosis outbreaks can occur when floodwaters become contaminated with animal waste.
• Rotavirus and cholera outbreaks have also been reported in the past following floods. Lack of basic sanitation is also a factor in the rise of water-borne diseases.

Changes in Vector Ecology and Vector Borne Diseases

• Malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, and leishmaniasis are the most common vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in India.
• A vector is any organism, such as fleas, ticks, or mosquitoes, that can transmit a pathogen, or infectious agent, from one host to another.
• Climate change extends the transmission season and broadens the geographical distribution of vector-borne diseases (such as dengue and malaria), as warmer temperatures and humidity encourage insect vector breeding and alter the geographic distribution of existing vectors.
• Warmer average temperatures can mean longer warm seasons, earlier spring seasons, shorter and milder winters, and hotter summers, making conditions more favourable for many vector-borne disease carriers.
• Malaria, which is spread by Anopheles mosquitoes, is heavily influenced by climate; stagnant water provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes. These conditions may contribute to the spread of malaria.
• The Aedes mosquito, which transmits dengue and chikungunya fever, is also highly sensitive to climate change, and studies indicate that climate change will likely increase dengue exposure.
• Climate change may also have an impact on other vector-borne diseases endemic to South Asia. These include parasitic diseases like leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis, as well as tick-borne diseases.
• Climate change may also have an impact on human plague, a bacterial disease carried by rodents and transmitted by fleas.

Effect of Extreme Temperatures

• Climate change will bring new and emerging health issues such as heat waves, cold spells, and other extreme events.
• Heat stress can degrade working conditions and increase the risk of cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal disease, as well as heat-related illnesses.
• With a 1.5°C increase in temperature, 350 million more people could be exposed to lethal heat stress by 2050.
• Extreme heat also increases air pollution and aeroallergen levels, which can trigger asthma and other respiratory diseases.
• Climate change may have an impact on human health by causing an increase in ground-level ozone and/or particulate matter air pollution.
• Ground-level ozone (a major component of smog) is linked to a variety of health issues, including decreased lung function, increased hospitalizations and emergency department visits for asthma, and an increase in premature deaths.
• Fossil fuel combustion (for power, transportation, and industry) is a major contributor to air pollution, which causes 7 million premature deaths worldwide each year.
• The second most significant contributor to global warming is black carbon, which is produced by inefficient combustion in sources such as cook stoves and diesel engines.
• Over 90% of the world's urban population breathes air that exceeds WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines for outdoor air pollution.
• Flooded materials in homes, schools and businesses can encourage mould growth and contribute to respiratory problems when inhaled.

Food Supply Problems

• Rising temperatures and variable precipitation are likely to reduce staple food production in many of the poorest regions. Malnutrition and undernutrition will become more prevalent as a result.
• A number of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America have expressed concern about the effects of climate change on food security, particularly in relation to floods and drought.
• The meat and dairy industries account for approximately 15% of greenhouse gas emissions, and meat and dairy-rich diets increase the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Forced Migration and Human Cost

• Climate or weather-related disasters are estimated to displace 22.5 million people each year, with these figures expected to rise in the future.
• Human mobility caused by climate change has a socioeconomic cost, as well as mental and social problems for individuals and communities.
• Weather and climate have both direct and indirect effects on human life.
• Climate change is expected to disproportionately affect the most disadvantaged, vulnerable, and poor populations, resulting in increased food and water insecurity, higher food prices, loss of income and livelihood opportunities, negative health effects, and population displacement (including forced migration).

Protecting Health from Climate Change

• Climate change is a global issue that requires everyone's participation. In late 2015, more than 190 countries approved the Paris Agreement to address climate change at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris.
• To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, all countries agreed to work together to keep global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius and to make every effort to keep it below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• Meeting the Paris Agreement's goals could save about a million lives per year by 2050 simply by reducing air pollution.
• The World Health Organization launched a Special Initiative on Climate Change and Health in Small Island Developing States in 2017.
• While these countries contribute very little to climate change causes, they are among the most vulnerable to its effects.
• With its pledge to the Paris Agreement, India laid the groundwork for greater global cooperation on climate action. India has committed to reducing its GDP emission intensity by 33-35 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.
• The Indian government's promotion of renewable energy shows a strong commitment to combating climate change.
• There are many things we can do in our daily lives to help prevent climate change, such as using climate-friendly transportation, saving energy, going solar, harvesting rainwater, reducing waste, and promoting urban green spaces.

Conclusion

In the short to medium term, the health impacts of climate change will be primarily determined by population vulnerability, resilience to current rates of climate change, and the extent and pace of adaptation. Longer-term consequences will increasingly be determined by the extent to which transformative action is taken now to reduce emissions and avoid dangerous temperature thresholds and potentially irreversible tipping points.

FAQs

Question. How does climate change affect human health?

Question. What are the direct health impacts of rising temperatures due to climate change?

Question. How does climate change contribute to the spread of diseases?

Question. What are the mental health impacts of climate change?

Question. What actions can be taken to mitigate the health impacts of climate change?

MCQs

1. Which of the following is a direct health impact of climate change?

A) Improved air quality

B) Decreased frequency of infectious diseases

C) Increased cases of heatstroke and dehydration

D) Decrease in pollen production

2. How does climate change contribute to the spread of vector-borne diseases?

A) By increasing air pollution

B) By expanding the habitats of disease vectors

C) By reducing waterborne diseases

D) By improving immunity in populations

3. Which of the following is NOT a health impact of climate change?

A) Heat stress

B) Malnutrition due to crop failure

C) Increase in infectious diseases

D) Lower rates of asthma

4. What is one of the mental health impacts of climate change?

A) Increased economic prosperity

B) Increased rates of climate anxiety

C) Reduction in chronic illnesses

D) Improved social relationships

5. Which of the following actions can help mitigate the health impacts of climate change?

A) Reducing global temperatures directly

B) Improving public health infrastructure and services

C) Increasing industrial activities

D) Limiting healthcare services

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Examine the direct and indirect health impacts of climate change.

Answer: Climate change has both direct and indirect health impacts. Direct impacts include the increase in heat-related illnesses, such as heatstroke and dehydration, and worsening of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases due to higher levels of pollution. Indirectly, climate change affects the spread of vector-borne diseases by expanding the range of disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes. Additionally, extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, lead to displacement, malnutrition, and disruption of healthcare services. Mental health is also affected, with increasing anxiety and stress linked to the unpredictability of future environmental conditions.

Q2: Discuss the role of climate-resilient health systems in combating the health challenges posed by climate change.

Answer: Climate-resilient health systems are essential in addressing the emerging health challenges posed by climate change. These systems involve adapting healthcare infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events and ensuring access to healthcare in the face of disruptions. Measures include investing in early warning systems, improving the delivery of health services during and after disasters, and building capacity in areas such as mental health care and treatment for climate-related diseases. By addressing the long-term effects of climate change and enhancing the preparedness of health systems, countries can mitigate health risks and reduce the burden on healthcare infrastructure.

Q3: Analyze the impact of climate change on global health and suggest mitigation strategies.

Answer: Climate change has a profound impact on global health, with rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events contributing to a range of health issues. These include heat stress, the spread of infectious diseases, food and water insecurity, and mental health challenges. Mitigation strategies should focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable agriculture, protecting natural ecosystems, and improving public health systems to address the increasing health burden. Additionally, investment in clean energy, climate-friendly urban planning, and policies promoting public awareness of climate-related health risks are essential for creating healthier communities.

Previous Year Questions on  Climate Change And Health

1. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: "How does climate change impact human health, and what are the major strategies to mitigate these impacts?"

Answer: Climate change impacts human health by increasing the frequency of heat-related illnesses, spreading infectious diseases, exacerbating respiratory issues, and impacting mental health. Mitigation strategies include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving public health infrastructure, promoting adaptation measures such as early warning systems, and raising awareness about the health risks of climate change.

2. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: "Evaluate the link between climate change and mental health, and suggest measures to address these challenges."

Answer: Climate change impacts mental health through stress, anxiety, and trauma caused by extreme weather events, displacement, and environmental degradation. Vulnerable populations, including those in disaster-prone areas, are most at risk. Measures to address these challenges include improving mental health support systems, creating policies for disaster preparedness and resilience, and integrating mental health into climate adaptation strategies. Public awareness campaigns can also help reduce climate anxiety and promote collective action.