The Overlooked Health Effects of Climate Change

The Growing Climate-Health Connection

When it comes to climate change, people often think of polar bears, melting ice caps, and sea levels rising. However, climate change is not just a single environmental threat – it's a driver of illness, healthcare disruption, and financial vulnerability. Professor Winston Chow of Singapore Management University, who is also co-chair of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group II, said: "When it comes to climate change, people often think of polar bears, melting ice caps, and sea levels rising. But climate change is not just a single environmental threat – it's a driver of illness, healthcare disruption, and financial vulnerability." As scientists and healthcare experts gain a better understanding of the effects of climate change on health, attention is also turning to risks that are often overlooked. Dr Kelvin Loh, group chief healthcare officer of AIA Group, pointed to extreme heat as an example. "Many people think of it as uncomfortable rather than dangerous. But prolonged heat exposure can exacerbate underlying health conditions, particularly among older adults and vulnerable populations." Rising temperatures are also allowing the Aedes mosquito to thrive in more places and for longer periods, increasing the risk of diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. "Combined with Asia's rapidly ageing population and accelerating urbanisation, these trends are creating new pressures on both public health and healthcare systems," he added. (Source: Climate and Health in Asia) Mental health is another less visible consequence of climate change, noted Prof Chow. He explained: "The potential for post-traumatic stress disorder is high in places hit by cyclones or typhoons. There's also growing climate anxiety, especially among younger generations who are facing an increasingly uncertain future shaped by a changing climate." Climate change is also exposing vulnerabilities in the systems people rely on to stay healthy, from hospitals and clinics to broader healthcare infrastructure, said Prof Chow. "When droughts or flooding occur one after another, they place enormous pressure on communities, hospitals, clinics, and insurance systems. Our infrastructure was designed for yesterday's climate, but we need to adjust to today's realities," he added.

Building Resilience in a Changing World

As Asia continues to warm faster than the global average, Prof Chow believes resilience needs to be embedded in all aspects of life. "We need to design our cities, our buildings, and our infrastructure to be resilient to the changing climate," he said. "We need to invest in climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals, clinics, and community health centers." Prof Chow also emphasized the importance of collaboration and coordination among governments, healthcare providers, communities, businesses, and insurers. "We need to work together to prevent, prepare for, and respond to climate-related health risks," he said. "We need to share knowledge, expertise, and resources to build resilience and adapt to a changing climate."

The Way Forward

The Climate and Health in Asia report provides a comprehensive overview of the growing climate-health connection in Asia. It highlights the need for governments, healthcare providers, communities, businesses, and insurers to work together to prevent, prepare for, and respond to climate-related health risks. The report also emphasizes the importance of building resilience and adapting to a changing climate. By understanding the connection between climate change and human health, we can take steps to prevent, prepare for, and respond to these changes and build a more resilient and sustainable future for all.