How Does Climate Change Affect Health?

Climate change affects health in 3 main ways:

1. The effects of extreme weather on physical and mental health e.g. injuries, trauma and heat-related illness.

2. The effect on the planet’s life support systems such as rising sea levels and safe water availability, changing patterns of zoonotic and vector borne disease e.g. malaria or dengue fever, reduced pollination and crop failure leading to food shortages.

3. Effects mediated by social systems such as livelihood loss, rising process of food and fuel, supply chain disruption, pressure on health and care services, conflict or forced migration.