Health in the climate emergency: A global perspective

There is increasing evidence for the adverse effects of climate change on human health, both physical and mental, posing serious challenges to the health gains made over recent decades. The scale, nature and timing of these problems differ across countries and within their populations, influenced by geography and socio-economic status; however, there are commonalities. Shared challenges to health from climate change necessitate that all actions taken to identify and quantify mitigation and adaptation solutions to combat the challenges of climate change focus on the most vulnerable groups, to ensure that we develop resilient, sustainable and equitable health systems, as well as correct fragmentation and imbalances in research systems and knowledge use. Climate change is a health crisis as well as an environmental crisis: the effects are experienced here and now, and the search for solutions is urgent.

In summary, the aggregate messages are the following:

• Climate change poses serious threats now to human physical and mental health. Climate change health risks will increase over time. The need for action is urgent.
• Rapid and decisive action could greatly reduce the long-term risks to health from climate change and bring near-term benefits for health, including through reduced air pollution and other co-benefits of climate change mitigation.
• As health within a region is also affected by activities that contribute to climate change and the impacts outside that region, it is important to integrate inter-regional responses to climate change together with regional and national actions.
• Solutions for adaptation and mitigation are within reach using present knowledge, but action requires political will.
• The scientific community has important roles in generating new knowledge, for example about cost-effective technologies, policies and implementation strategies, and in countering misinformation and addressing equity in climate–health responses.
• There is need for better monitoring and surveillance of potential health impacts due to climate change. There is also need for better evaluation of implemented actions, to assess and quantify benefits, trade-offs and costs and document facilitators and barriers to action.
• Climate change intersects with and exacerbates other global challenges, including COVID-19, pollution, and loss of biodiversity. The pandemic is providing important lessons about responding to threats worldwide through cooperation and rapid mobilisation of resources at large scale.