Environment
The global health effects of climate change are not well quantified today and are likely to increase in the future, with lower-income countries bearing the brunt of greater food insecurity, increased rates of chronic respiratory illnesses, and shifts in vector-borne diseases. This section explores the global health nexus between climate change and pollution and the possibilities for a more coherent policy approach to these issues
Environment
30,000
Since March 2022, cholera has infected more than 30,000 and killed more than 1,000
Malawi's Cholera Outbreak Could Spill Over into Neighboring Countries
0.08%
Sri Lanka and other dengue-endemic countries brought the mortality rate of dengue down to less than 0.08%
Why Nations Need to Prepare for Climate-Fueled Dengue
40,000
More than 40,000 people die of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning annually
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning When Disasters Hit
32,200
Agricultural burning accounted for approximately 32,200 premature deaths in 2019
Deaths related to the use of fire to clear land
25 Percent
The U.S. makes up 5 percent of the global population, but produces 25 percent of the world's CO2 emissions
The United States and CO2 emissions
4 Million
In 2019, outdoor air pollution was linked to more than 4 million deaths
Air pollution-linked deaths
One-Third
The one-third of Earth under the guardianship of Indigenous peoples boasts ~80 percent of global biodiversity
Indigenous Land Guardianship Around the World
5 Percent
In India, health care contributes to 5 percent of the national carbon footprint
Carbon footprint of India's health-care industry
700,000
Indonesia dumps close to 700,000 tons of plastic into the ocean each year
Indonesia and plastic waste
62,000
In 2018, China reported 62,000 heat-related deaths in people over age 65
Aging and heat
Featured
COP28 Sparks Urgency Amid Climate Funding Shortfall
Multilateral organizations should finance climate adaptation and mitigation efforts to combat climate change's harms
Eyes on Disease X: Ranking the Next Pandemic
University of California, Davis has expanded its SpillOver tool to assess the pandemic potential of dangerous pathogens
Climate Change’s Hidden Mental Toll On Children
New evidence reveals that the climate crisis affects neurological and mental well-being more than previously understood
Brazil's Deadly Floods Expose Shortfalls in Disaster Preparedness
A failure to create and implement policies for climate-related disasters left Brazil unprepared
In Climate Fight, Focus on Women and Girls
Zimbabwe's Lunia Centre is tackling climate change's spillover effects on women and girls
In India, Climate Change Drives Pesticide Use, Harming Farmers' Health
As temperatures rise, farmworkers turn to using more potent pesticides, putting themselves at further risk
The Toll of Extreme Heat on India's Laborers
India lacks protections for outdoor workers despite the mounting threat from heat waves and climate change
Preparing for Climate Disasters in East Africa
Immediate action is needed to mitigate the effects of deadly flooding in East Africa
Treating East Africa's Water Conflicts With AI and Big Data
How AI and big data can help resolve water-related refugee crises and armed conflicts
Shrinking Shores, Rising Risks in the Great Salt Lake
How Utah's shrinking Great Salt Lake is harming human and environmental health
Tackling Air Pollution in Africa With Data
Access to real-time air quality data could address the growing dangers of outdoor air pollution in Africa
Guatemala's Ecotourism: Migration Stopgap Meets Sustainability Vision
How remote, indigenous communities have reimagined tourism in Guatemala
Climate Change and Global Health: Moving From Rhetoric to Action
The World Health Assembly can help mainstream climate action into the global health agenda
Reimagining the Future of Climate Health With AI
Harnessing the power of generative AI for health promotion and climate action
Why Nations Need to Prepare for Climate-Fueled Dengue
World leaders should act quickly to support countries on the frontlines of climate-sensitive diseases