What are the effects of climate change on our health – and how can we deal with them?

This week, COP30 kicks off in Belém, Brazil. Across the week, leaders from nearly 200 countries will come together to tackle climate change and discuss solutions to lowering the rise in global temperatures.

The climate crisis is a public health crisis. We all know how climate change affects our planet, but it also having a devastating impact on our health – particularly the health of our most vulnerable populations.

How is climate change affecting our health?

Climate change is already having a significant impact on our health and is disproportionately affecting those already facing inequalities. There are a range of health issues that this impact could have.

Air quality

Changes to the climate are leading to poorer air quality, which drives a range of problems. Air pollution contributes to between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year in the UK through the onset and exacerbation of chronic disorders, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Pests and communicable diseases

A warmer climate will lead to an increase in pests and the introduction of new diseases to the UK. We could see an increased prevalence of bacterial infections like salmonella, and an increase in disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes which could increase the risk of disease.

Extreme weather events

An increase in extreme weather events like floods and heatwaves can have catastrophic effects on our health, leading to an increase in deaths, injuries and illnesses.  

Infrastructure 

Extreme weather events bring new difficulties for the UK’s infrastructure. By 2050, heat-related deaths are expected to triple and the number of properties at risk of flooding could double.

Food and water security

The UK’s dependence on climate-vulnerable countries for food could result in shortfalls in supply, leading to reliance on poor quality food, diet-related illnesses, and increased exposure to parasites and livestock disease.

What can we do to mitigate the effects of climate change on our health?

As well as curbing emissions, it is crucial that we have a workforce that is prepared to deal with the effects of climate change on our health. With upskilling, we can ensure that the workforce have the capacity, resources and support they need to protect the public.

Health improvement and climate action go hand in hand. That’s why we’ve developed the Level 2 Award in Supporting Climate-related Behaviour Change. Among the first of its kind in the UK, the course combines practical public health skills and climate knowledge to help people to improve their impact on their health and the planet.

The course covers:

• The key features of the climate emergency and its impact on health.
• How communication can help encourage behaviour change.
• The skills you need to support people and communities to make an impact on the climate and their health.

The course was piloted earlier this year with learners from Westminster City Council’s ‘North Paddington Volunteer Climate Champion’ programme and is now also available as an online course.

Whether you work in community development, health or climate action, this course can help you understand how to support behaviour change that makes a real difference.

Want to find out more about the course? Get in touch with our training team.