Health Consequences of Climate Change

Abstract

Fossil fuel use is harming human health and the resulting climate change presents a risk that has arrived substantially sooner than anticipated. Frequent and intense heat waves, storms, droughts and wildfires are causing widespread cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, malnutrition and childhood illness. Extreme weather events and associated economic losses are driving a wave of climate migration; billions more people will be displaced over the coming century. These effects being seen now are the result of only 1.14°C of warming. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise because of increasing fossil fuel use and we are currently on track for 2.8–3.5°C of warming by the end of the century. The planet is crossing dangerous tipping points, triggering positive feedback loops in planetary heating. There is a narrow window of time during which climate action can prevent the collapse of the human ecosystem. Key Concepts Fossil fuel use is driving accelerating climate change that is bringing about the collapse of the human ecosystem. Extreme weather events, flooding, forest fires and drought are bringing about vast human suffering through cardiac disease, respiratory disease, maternal & childhood illness, malnutrition, and forced migration. Catastrophic human impacts are already being seen at only 1.14°C of warming, and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.