This informal CPD article ‘Climate Change and Health: A Growing Public Health Threat’ was provided by The International Academy of Public Health (IAPH), a multi-disciplinary academy dedicated to advancing the global public health workforce.
Climate change is the long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns which can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas (UN, 2025).
Climate change is no longer just a future concern; it represents a current and growing public health challenge. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation are already reshaping health outcomes globally, with the most effects observed in vulnerable populations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change is projected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths annually between 2030 and 2050, stemming from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress (WHO, 2023).
How Does Climate Change Impact Health?
Climate change impacts human health through direct and indirect pathways. Directly, it causes injuries and fatalities from extreme events such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, hurricanes, and wildfires. Indirectly, it affects air quality, food and water security, mental health, and the spread of infectious diseases (CDC, 2023).
Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense. Recent research attributes 37% of heat-related deaths directly to human-induced climate change, with older populations particularly vulnerable (WHO, 2023). For instance, the Middle East - already one of the hottest regions globally - has experienced temperatures exceeding 50°C, contributing to thousands of heat-related deaths during events like the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage (EMPHNET, 2024).
Similarly, floods and droughts, intensified by climate change, contribute to malnutrition, displacement, and the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery. In conflict-affected regions like Sudan, compounded effects of climate change and instability have led to severe public health crises, with millions displaced and food insecurity rising sharply (EMPHNET, 2024).
Why Are Vulnerable Populations Most Affected?
Not everyone is equally exposed to climate-related health risks. Low-income communities, indigenous populations, children, older adults, and those with existing health conditions bear a disproportionate burden. For example, regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are projected to see millions pushed into extreme poverty due to climate-related health effects (World Bank, 2024).
In the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), ongoing conflicts weaken health systems, making populations more vulnerable to climate shocks. The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) highlights that environmental factors contribute to over 1 million premature deaths annually in the EMR, emphasizing the urgent need for climate-resilient health policies (EMPHNET, 2025).
What Health Conditions Are Linked to Climate Change?
- Vector-borne diseases: Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns expand the habitats of disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes, increasing the spread of malaria, dengue, and West Nile virus (WHO, 2023).
- Food- and waterborne diseases: Floods and droughts compromise water and food safety, increasing outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and diarrheal diseases (CDC, 2023).
- Mental health disorders: Climate-induced displacement, livelihood loss, and environmental destruction contribute to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (World Bank, 2024).
What Can Be Done?
Immediate action is needed to mitigate the health impacts of climate change. Key strategies include:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Transitioning to sustainable transport, energy, and food systems can deliver major health co-benefits, such as reduced air pollution and associated diseases (WHO, 2023).
- Building climate-resilient health systems: Strengthening healthcare infrastructure, early warning systems, and workforce training can enhance the capacity to respond to climate-induced health emergencies (World Bank, 2024).
- Fostering equity and resilience: Special focus must be placed on protecting the most vulnerable populations and ensuring that adaptation strategies prioritize health equity (EMPHNET, 2025).
Conclusion
Climate change amplifies existing health vulnerabilities and creates new challenges. As the evidence strongly indicates, coordinated global action is critical - not just for the environment, but for the health and wellbeing of current and future generations. Integrating climate considerations into public health planning is increasingly essential for building a healthier, more resilient world.
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References
- United Nations (UN). (2025). Climate Action.
- World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). Climate Change and Health.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Climate Effects on Health.
- World Bank. (2024). Health and Climate Change
- Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET). (2024). Climate Change and Public Health Events in the EMR.
- Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET). (2025). The Intersection of Climate Change, Conflict, and Migration: Emerging Health Risks in the EMR.
