Human-induced climate change: a growing threat to public health

As the northern hemisphere heads into midsummer, it’s worth thinking about how seriously heat affects our health – and public health systems. Here we’re not talking about a case of sunstroke after a day spent on the beach with too little water. We’re talking about the fact that anthropogenic (i.e. man-made) environmental pollution has made the world so hot that in the last 20 years, thousands of people have died unnecessarily.

In fact, a new scientific study* reveals that: increased environmental temperatures (resulting predominantly from manmade carbon emissions) now kills one out of three people in heat-related deaths worldwide over warmer months.

Comprehensive study reveals frightening global warming statistics

Using data from: - 732 locations - across 43 countries - collected between 1991 and 2018

a new study led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the University of Bern [within the Multi-Country Multi-City (MCC) Collaborative Research Network] has for the first time revealed the contribution of manmade climate change to higher mortality risks for humans in statistical terms.

Findings: The global scientific team found that across all studied countries:

  • 37% of heat-related deaths (during warm seasons) over 27 years (1991 to 2018) can be attributed to anthropogenic climate change.
  • There are now higher mortality rates evident on every continent (ranging between 20.5% - 76.3%) due to this growing phenomenon.
  • The highest mortality rates were evident in Central and South America (up to 76% in Ecuador or Colombia, as examples) and South-East Asia (between 48% to 61%).

Examples of human-induced climate change

Exact causality is hard to determine. Why? Mainly due to how interwoven climate change factors are, and how individualized, in terms of geography and socio-economic conditions, each country is. That said, here are some key examples of anthropogenic climate change: Increased air pollution (exacerbates or causes lung conditions/diseases and other issues) Wildfires (wreaks havoc on ecosystems and destroys habitats, homes and takes lives). Agricultural stresses (drought, water shortages, less available food = famine). Heatwaves resulting in direct physiological failures — (people, especially the very young, the elderly, and infirm). Climatic and meteorological patterns are highly complex, but human impact and influence are now statistically undeniable.

Boiling frog syndrome: we’re slowly cooking ourselves alive

Ever heard of the metaphor of the frog in a pot of water on a stove that slowly heats to boiling point? Because the increase in temperature is so incremental, the frog doesn’t realize it’s in dire straits until it’s too late. The increased heat also makes it lethargic to act and creates a false sense of comfort and security before things get decidedly uncomfortable.

That’s pretty much where the human race finds itself now.

If we don’t reverse climate change and put mitigation policies in place to reduce global warming and carbon emissions, we’re going to boil, burn or fry our future. And that is not a pretty picture.

Read more in this trending article on the Sustainability Essentials Climate news page.