The big picture – how both environmental degradation and climate change harm health
1. Approximately 12.6 million deaths each year, is attributable to avoidable environmental risk factors. Climate change affects social and environmental determinants of health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter- and exacerbate many of these risks1.
2. Climate change and environmental pollution – in particular air pollution - are closely connected. There are multiple solutions that address both or can be designed in a way to harness multiple benefits.
3. An estimated 6.5 million deaths are associated with air pollution every year.
- Air pollution is a contributing factor in 1 in every 3 deaths from lung cancer, stroke or heart disease.
- 92% of people worldwide do not breathe clean air.
- 87% of deaths from outdoor air pollution occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- 2/3 of the premature deaths from air pollution are due to indoor smoke from indoor cooking fuels: 3 billion people cook and heat their homes using open fires or simple stoves, burning coal, or biomass
4. Climate change is projected to cause 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 without mitigation and adaptation.
Who is at risk from climate change?
5. All populations will be affected by climate change, but some are more vulnerable than others. People living in small island developing states and other coastal regions, large cities, and mountainous and polar regions are particularly vulnerable.
6. Children – in particular, children living in poor countries – are among the most vulnerable to the resulting health risks and will be exposed longer to the health consequences. The health effects are also expected to be more severe for elderly people and people with infirmities or pre-existing medical conditions.
7. Areas with weak health infrastructure – mostly in developing countries – will be the least able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond. What is the impact of climate change on health?
8. The direct 2 damage costs to health from climate change is estimated to be between US$2-4 billion/year by 2030.
9. Extreme high air temperatures contribute directly to deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory disease, particularly among elderly people. In the heat wave of summer 2003 in Europe for example, more than 70 000 excess deaths were recorded. An estimated 125 million additional vulnerable adults were exposed to heatwaves between 2000 and 20163 . Pollen and other aeroallergen levels are also higher in extreme heat. These can trigger asthma, which affects around 300 million people.
10. Vector and waterborne diseases, such as malaria, dengue, cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases are already a leading health risk worldwide. Increasing temperatures and changing rainfall patterns facilitate transmission of vector-borne diseases. Rising freshwater (like lake surface) temperatures from climate change are likely to increase the prevalence of harmful algae, pathogens and bacteria. These can be a risk when those waters are used for recreation (swimming), drinking and potentially food (fish or agriculture). Actions needed: Health, Environment and Climate Change are intertwined
11. Despite evidence of the effect of environment and climate on health, political action and investments remain largely insufficient: only about 3% of health resources are invested in prevention, with approximately 97% spent on treatment, increasing healthcare costs.
12. A more preventive, integrated and intersectoral approach to enhancing health, fostering pro-poor growth, and protecting the environment, should promote policy coherence, more sustainable consumption, efficiency and equity. The healthcare community needs to mobilise at all levels, to gather data, act fast, and engage with the environment and climate change agenda for the good of a vast number of human lives:
- Public Health Systems need to be strengthened to protect against climate change and enhance its capacity to manage emergencies for the benefit of individuals and communities, especially the less advantaged
- Surveillance and Early Warning Systems can protect in advance of disaster striking
Solutions for Climate change, Environment and Health
13. Policies that reduce climate change and improve environmental conditions have huge health co-benefits potentials. For example, an increase of 7 per cent in total clean energy investment for the period 2012-2040 could prevent 1.7 million premature deaths from outdoor air pollution and 1.6 million deaths from household pollution in 20404.
14. To avoid overshooting the Paris goals, governments (including by updating their Paris pledges), the private sector, cities and others need to urgently pursue actions that will bring deeper and more-rapid cuts. Technology investments in particularly in agriculture, buildings, energy, forestry, industry and transport sectors, at an investment cost of under $100 per tonne of CO2 avoided, often much lower – could save up to 36 GtCO2e per year by 20305 , also contributing to tackle air pollution with benefits for human health and well-being.
15. The short life span of short-lived climate pollutants means that assertive action now to reduce emissions can rapidly improve air quality and save lives and contribute to food security, as well as slow the rate of near-term climate change by 0.6⁰C by mid-century.
16. Reducing emissions of both long-lived greenhouse gases and short-lived climate pollutants through better transport, better waste management, well-informed food, leisure and energy-use systems and resulting choices (e.g. clean cookstoves and heat stoves) can result in improved health, particularly through reduced air pollution.
17. Promoting renewable energy to decarbonise our energy grids: decentralised renewables help improve access to modern energy systems and thereby reduce the need for polluting alternatives, from diesel generators to traditional biomass use
18. Energy efficiency programmes reduce carbon emissions and air pollution, for the benefit of human health and well-being. Clean energy appliances have a key role to play: if solar LED lanterns were used in place of kerosene and candles, they would displace 90 Mt of CO2 emissions while reducing indoor air pollution and significantly improving the health and safety of end users6.
19. The waste sector is responsible for both near and long -term climate impacts and creates serious air, soil and water pollution, affecting human and animal health. Integrated waste management solutions can deliver 15 to 20% GHG emission reduction across the economy, reduce the impact of natural disasters and increase resilience. Almost half the waste generated worldwide is municipal solid waste. Reducing short-lived climate pollutants through well-managed waste systems will contribute to climate mitigation efforts and achieve health, environmental, and economic co-benefits, improving the quality of life of local communities.
20. Urban Planning: Urban planning has a critical role to play in reducing the need for transport and facilitating non-motorised and public transport options, efficiencies of buildings and energy systems, and harness the benefits from nature-based solutions, for cooling, cleaning the air and flood control etc:
- Shifts towards more sustainable and greener transport systems, promotion of cycling, and walking reduces outdoor air pollution, encourage physical activity and increase health equity.
- District Energy: Cities are also implementing district heating and/or cooling as dual air quality and climate measures. Modern district energy systems also pave the way for increased shares of renewable energy.
- Energy Efficiency in buildings to harness the sector’s mitigation potential reduces pressure on energy supply while providing thermal comfort and improving indoor air quality
21. Governments of the World have passed resolutions at the World Health Assembly committing to mobilize the health sector to raise awareness and act on major environmental risks, including climate change, air pollution, water and sanitation, and chemical safety. They have adopted resolutions at UN Environment Assemblies to tackle air pollution and climate change and have mobilised Environment Ministers on the connections between environment and health. The 3rd session of the UN Environment Assembly to take place in Nairobi, Kenya (4-6 December) aims at paving the way “Towards a Pollution-Free Planet”. Join us and #Beatpollution.
22. In addition to action taken by governments, non-state actors are showing the lead in reducing emissions including in industry and through investment in energy projects in cities. These not only reduce emissions but also bring co-benefits to people which improve human health, enhance gender equality, and support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
23. WHO, UN Environment and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition invite you to join the BreatheLife campaign to mitigate climate change and stop air pollution deaths.
1 Disease risks include strokes, ischemic heart disease, unintentional injuries, cancers and chronic lung disease.
2 Ie. excluding costs in health-determining sectors such as agriculture and water and sanitation.
3 Source: The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: from 25 years of inaction to a global transformation for public health (2017)
4 Source: International Energy Agency (2016) Energy and Air Pollution: World Energy Outlook Special Report. Paris.
5 UN Environment (2017) The Emissions Gap Report 2017
6 UN Environment (2014) Green Paper: Policy Options to Accelerate the Global Transition to Advanced Lighting