Building Economic Resilience to the Health Impacts of Climate Change 2025

The health impacts of climate change are compounded by existing health vulnerability factors. Climate-driven health risks are disproportionately felt by the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, including women, children, the elderly, poor communities, migrants or displaced persons, and those with underlying health conditions.11 For example, between 30 May and 4 September 2022, Europe saw 56% more heat-related deaths among women than men.12 Human vulnerability is also either exacerbated or mitigated by governments’, communities’ and the private sector’s ability to provide infrastructure and services to support health. Climate-driven health risks and vulnerability factors are interconnected and often compounding, as a lack of resources makes it harder for affected groups to adapt, creating a vicious cycle in which climate shocks deepen existing health and economic inequalities. Together, chronic and acute climate risk factors and existing health vulnerabilities will lead to worse population health outcomes (see Figure 1). Injury and mortality: Weather events (e.g. hurricanes, floods, wildfires) cause direct injuries and fatalities. Developing countries are disproportionately affected, accounting for over 90% of deaths due to weather, climate and water hazards.13 Heat-related illness: Heatwaves lead to heatstroke and secondary effects like cardiovascular stress in vulnerable populations such as outdoor workers, women, the elderly, urban residents and those with underlying health conditions (including pregnancy). Although global warming may lower cold-related mortality, it is widely accepted that this impact will not compensate for the rise in heat-related deaths.14 Zoonotic diseases: Ecosystem degradation (e.g. deforestation, habitat loss) brings humans, livestock and wildlife into closer contact, increasing the likelihood of animal-to-human disease transmission and outbreaks of zoonoses such as Ebola and COVID-19.15 Vector-borne diseases: Warmer climates and shifting rainfall patterns expand and shift the range and seasonality of disease-carrying mosquitoes, ticks and other vectors, boosting the spread of malaria, dengue, Zika, Lyme disease and other illnesses while disrupting protection and control.Water-related illness: Changes in temperature and precipitation create favourable conditions for the spread of waterborne pathogens like cholera, typhoid and dysentery, as flooding contaminates water supplies while droughts concentrate pollutants. Food-borne illness: Higher temperatures and humidity accelerate the growth of pathogens (for example, salmonella, E. coli and norovirus) and, combined with supply chain disruptions and flooding, increase the risk of food contamination. Malnutrition: Droughts, flooding, heat stress and other climate impacts reduce agricultural yields and quality, disrupting food supply chains, ultimately leading to higher rates of food insecurity and malnutrition (including undernutrition and obesity). Respiratory illness: Rising temperatures, wildfires and the burning of fossil fuels contribute to particulate pollution and ground-level ozone (smog) formation, which can cause respiratory tract infections and other non- communicable diseases such as pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and lung cancer. Non-communicable diseases: Climate- induced factors such as extreme heat, air pollution and poor diets linked to food insecurity increase the rates of pregnancy complications, adverse birth outcomes and chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease and even some cancers. Mental health disorders: The trauma and stress of climate-related disasters, displacement and livelihood instability are leading to increases in mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Beyond disasters, rising temperatures are linked to increased stress, aggression and physical harm.more heat-related deaths occurred among women than men in Europe between 30 May and 4 September 2022.56% Building Economic Resilience to the Health Impacts of Climate Change 7