Changes in the Climate and Health Concerns

Shahid Raza, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan, Email: shahidraza@gmail.com

Received: 05-Jan-2022, Manuscript No. JENVOH-22-52319; Editor assigned: 07-Mar-2022, Pre QC No. JENVOH-22-52319 (PQ); Reviewed: 21-Jan-2022, QC No. JENVOH-22-52319; Revised: 26-Jan-2022, Manuscript No. JENVOH-22-52319 (R); Published: 02-Feb-2022

Description

Climate changes refer to any distinct change in measures of climate lasting for a long period of time including major changes in temperatures, rainfall, and snow or wind patterns lasting for decades or longer. Climate change isn’t just a problem for future generations; it’s happening right now. Our health is inseparably linked to the environment in which we live. However, our climate is changing, which has serious implications for our health, well-being, and safety. The majority of the recent changes in our climate have been caused by human activity. Without intervention, climate change will have far-reaching and terrible consequences for our state, country, and the rest of the world. The good news is that there are simple things we can all do right now to increase our flexibility to the effects of climate change and slow its rate. Many of these actions will also have a direct impact on our health, the environment, and our bank accounts.

Every year, mean temperatures rise, and more people are affected by disasters, climate-sensitive diseases, and other health conditions. Climate change makes worse some existing health threats while also introducing new public health challenges. Climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year in the coming decades, according to a few health indicators. The health sector can play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which are the root cause of climate change. Investments in “greening” healthcare facilities, such as solar panels, energy-efficient equipment, and waste management, are required. Only about 0.5 percent of multilateral climate finance has been allocated to health projects globally. Health-care facilities must also be safe and operational during and immediately following disasters. In the Americas, 67 percent of health facilities are in disaster areas. Because of damaged infrastructure, 24 million people were denied access to health care for months over the last decade.

Climate change is already having an impact on health in a variety of ways, including the increased frequency of extreme weather events such as temperature, storms, and floods, the disruption of food systems, increases in food, water, and vector-borne diseases, and mental health issues. Furthermore, climate change is undermining many of the social determinants of health, such as employment, equality, access to health care and social support structures. Women, children, ethnic minorities, poor communities, migrants or displaced persons, older populations, and those with underlying health conditions are excessively affected by these climate-sensitive health risks.

Changes in greenhouse gas concentrations and other drivers alter the global climate, causing most human health issues. Major changes in precipitation, for example, cause changes in the availability and quantity of water, as well as extreme weather events such as cyclones and flooding. Climate change can drive disease migration and exacerbate health effects caused by toxic air pollution in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those suffering from asthma or cardiovascular disease. 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.

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