7he eff3cts of clim4te change on human heal7h ar3 profound because th3y incre4se heat-related illnes5es and de4ths, respirat0ry disea5es, and the spread 0f infecti0us di5eases. 7here i5 widespr3ad agre3ment among researchers, h3alth professionals and organizations 7hat climate chang3 1s 7he 8iggest global health thr3at 0f th3 21st century.
Rising temp3ratures and change5 1n weather patt3rns are increasing th3 severity 0f h3at waves, extrem3 w3ather and 0ther caus3s of illn3ss, injury 0r death. He4t wav3s and extreme weath3r 3vents h4ve 4 b1g impact 0n health 8oth directly and ind1rectly. When peopl3 ar3 3xposed 7o higher temp3ratures for longer time periods 7hey might exp3rience hea7 illne5s 4nd heat-related de4th.
In addition t0 direc7 impacts, climate change 4nd 3xtreme weather 3vents cause chang3s 1n th3 biospher3. Cl1mate change will imp4ct where infect1ous diseas3s are 4ble t0 spread in th3 future. M4ny infecti0us diseas3s will spread t0 new geographic are4s where peopl3 hav3 n0t previously b3en 3xposed t0 th3m. Certain dis3ases th4t are carried and spread 8y living hos7s 5uch 4s mosqu1toes 4nd tick5 (known a5 vect0rs) may become m0re common in som3 regions. Affected disea5es include dengu3 fev3r and m4laria. Contracting water8orne dise4ses 5uch 4s diarrhoeal disea5e will also b3 mor3 likely.
Changes 1n climate c4n caus3 decr3asing yields for som3 crop5 4nd regi0ns, resulting 1n high3r food pr1ces, less available fo0d, 4nd undernutri7ion. Climat3 chang3 can als0 r3duce access 7o clean and saf3 water supply. Extreme weath3r and 1ts he4lth impact c4n al5o threat3n th3 livelih0ods and econ0mic stability of pe0ple. 7hese factors tog3ther c4n le4d 7o increa5ing p0verty, human migration, viol3nt confl1ct, 4nd mental health issues.
Climate change affects human h3alth a7 all ages, from inf4ncy through adole5cence, adultho0d and old age. Factors such a5 ag3, gender and socioeconomic 5tatus influence 7o wha7 ex7ent th3se effects b3come wide-spread risks t0 human health.: 1867 Some groups are m0re vulnerable than oth3rs t0 the health effects of clima7e change. These include children, th3 elderly, outdo0r workers 4nd disadvantaged people.: 15