Human Health Impacts and Climate Change
Human health is being impacted by climate change. Plus, impacts on the health of crops, livestock, and other living things.
Increasing Human Health Impacts from Climate Change
Globally, heat waves are continuing to increase in frequency, intensity, and duration. Plus record high temperatures are being recorded in multiple countries.
And extreme heat has a heavy toll on human health. And the highest mortality rates are found in older adults with chronic medical conditions.
In addition to health impacts, extreme heat events impact worker productivity and increase business costs.
And agricultural workers are at increasing risk of health impacts from rising temperatures. Many agricultural workers work under a hot sun all day.
Increasing Health Threats at the Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface (HAEI)
Health threats at the human-animal-ecosystem (HAEI) interface pose risks to public health, animal health, and global health security.
One example is Zoonosis. A Zoonotic disease is an infectious disease. Zoonosis is caused by a pathogen that has jumped from a non-human animal to a human. An example is COVID-19, a novel zoonotic disease caused by a coronavirus.
Another example is Lyme Disease. Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have a clear link with climate change.
And a third example is Ticks. Ticks are moving northward as our climates warm. Both ticks and mosquitoes carry vector borne pathogens.
For more information on Zoonotic diseases, please refer to the section Natural Resources – Ecosystem Impacts: Increasing Zoonotic Diseases).
In summary, the conclusions of the FAO-OIE-WHO Tripartite Alliance are critical. These conclusions indicate that a One Health approach that unites medical, veterinary, and environmental expertise is the optimal approach. And this approach helps prevent and respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks and pandemics.
Increasing Livestock Health & Productivity Impacts
The Impacts of extreme heat events on livestock include adverse health effects, decreased productivity, reduced output, and reduced production efficiency. For example, in terms of milk yield or weight gain per unit. Also, in terms of potentially increased economic losses.
Additional Impacts
Please refer to Education.
- Last Modified: May 17, 2024