Figure 1. Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health (adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and J. Patz).
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Climate Change and Health Impacts
Climate change is already affecting the health and well-being of Californians. Climate change threatens and harms human health through changes in environmental exposures, including more extreme heat and other severe weather events, worsened air quality, more frequent wildfires and smoke, increases in allergens, altered environmental conditions that foster the spread of infectious diseases, and other direct and indirect pathways. The resulting human health impacts include, but are not limited to, increased number of cases of
heat-related illness and death, more air pollution-related cardiovascular and respiratory disease events, increased injury and loss
of life due to wildfires, severe storms, and flooding, increased occurrences of
vector-borne and water-borne diseases, and stress and mental trauma from
loss of livelihoods, property loss, and displacement.
While all Californians are affected by climate change, populations facing racial and health inequities, or systemic differences in racial and health status that are preventable and unfair, are impacted disproportionately (PDF)ā. Certain population groups also have greater susceptibility to the health effects of climate change because of their proximity and sensitivity to climate-related environmental exposures and hazards.
āā
In general, populations at greater risk of climate change-related health impacts include (but are not limited to) those who:ā
Are experiencing homelessness
Are in particular age groups, such as older adults or infants and children
Are pregnant (e.g., extreme heat is associated with increased risk of preterm birth and stillbirth)
Have a disability, have access and functional needs (AFN), or are homebound
Are affected by chronic health conditions or other illness
Use electricity-dependent assistive technology and medical equipment
Are affected by certain mental health or behavioral health conditions, or substance abuse disorders
Are taking certain medications (e.g., during extreme heat, medications like antidepressants, beta-blockers and other heart medications, or substances like alcohol, can interfere with the bodyās internal āthermostatā or impair sweating)
Are physically or socially isolatedā
Are members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and other gender identities and sexual orientations (LGBTQ+) community (e.g., greater risk of being displaced during disastersā)
Are immigrants or refugees, especially those who lack the rights of citizenship
āHave limited English proficiency (LEP)ā
Have lower incomes and/or are experiencing poverty
Have limited or no access to health services, including those without health insurance
Are from/of āhistorically marginalized and/or under-resourced communities, particularly Tribal and Indigenous communities, and communities of color including Black, Latinx/e, and other populations
Live, work, or go to school in geographic areas more exposed to climate-related environmental exposures and hazards (e.g., coastal areas and sea level rise / flooding; urbanized areas thatā experience greater urban heat island effect; homes in areas at greater risk of wildfires)
Live in substandard housing
āLive in mobile or manufactured homes, rental housing, or single room occupancy (SRO) unitsā
āāāWork outdoors (e.g., agricultural workers, construction workers)
Work indoors in non-cooled / non-air conditioned spaces (e.g., warehouse workers), environments with poor indoor air quality, or other climate-vulnerable indoor environments
Work in protective service occupations, including emergency respondersā
Are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated
Otherwise lack access and/or mobility options to travel to health-protective places (e.g., cooling / warming, clean air, extreme weather, or other community-based respite centers or shelters)
āāOtherwise already experience social and health inequitiesā
Climate Change Worsens Existing Inequities
Climate change and health inequities share similar root causes: the inequitable distribution of social, political, and economic power. These power imbalances result in systems (economic, transportation, land use, housing, education, and more) and conditions that drive both health inequities and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a result, we see communities with inequitable living conditions, such as historically marginalized and under-resourced communities of color (Black, Latinx/e, Indigenous, and others) living in more polluted areas, facing climate change impacts that compound and worsen existing vulnerabilities.
Fair and
healthy climate action requires addressing the inequities that create
and intensify community climate vulnerabilities, through strategically prioritizing investments in improving living conditions for and with people facing disadvantage.
Learn how taking action to address the climate crisis can also promote health equity and build community resilience >>ā