Health and Climate Change

Abstract

Climate change can affect public and individual health through many causal pathways. Climate impacts such as meteorological phenomena, extreme weather, disturbances of air quality, impact of environmental contaminants and other risk factors such as sanitation and access to clean water can affect health both directly and indirectly. Notable findings of health outcomes include infectious diseases, mortality through extreme environmental patterns as well as respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Temperature and humidity are most often related etiologically with outcomes as mentioned above. Nevertheless, temperature is associated with adverse nutritional outcomes, skin diseases and allergies. A thorough overview of the research already conducted with regard to health impacts of climate change is crucial in order to move human behaviours towards sustainability in energy, mitigation and adaptation responses that support climate and consequently health.

Citation

Manola, M.-E. and Tribonias, G. (2022), "Health and Climate Change", Manolas, E. and Leal Filho, W. (Ed.) The Academic Language of Climate Change: An Introduction for Students and Non-native Speakers, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 71-77. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-911-120221011