The climate emergency is already a significant health risk. The report, “The impact of climate change on people’s health: from the global to the Spanish experience”, published today by the Fundación Salud por Derecho, reaches one of the following conclusions: The document examines the impact of climate change on public health, with a particular focus on the consequences of extreme weather events such as heat waves, air pollution and vector-borne diseases (including dengue fever and malaria). Furthermore, the report analyses public policies on climate change from a health perspective and recommends greater ambition.
The report indicates that a 1.5°C increase in global temperature could result in an additional 350 million deaths from heat exposure by 2050. Furthermore, the report highlights the adverse effects of high temperatures on the progression of chronic diseases such as heart, kidney and lung diseases. Moreover, there is mounting evidence to suggest a correlation between heat waves and the onset of neurological disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Nevertheless, the impact of extreme temperatures on human beings is not uniform. Those who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including infants, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions, as well as those with the least resources, are particularly affected by climate change and have the least means at their disposal to adapt and reduce its impact. In a similar manner, low- and middle-income countries are also the most susceptible to the effects of climate change, despite having historically contributed the least to total emissions.
Fossil fuel combustion is the primary source of air pollution, which is responsible for approximately 21,000 deaths per year in Spain and 300,000 in Europe. It thus represents a further significant health risk, particularly for individuals with respiratory disorders and cardiovascular disease, as well as for children and pregnant women.
Vector-borne diseases, such as dengue and malaria, also represent a significant challenge. These diseases account for 17% of all infectious diseases and result in over 700,000 deaths annually worldwide. The report indicates that climate change and rising temperatures are influencing the patterns and behaviour of mosquitoes, extending their risky seasons and prompting them to inhabit latitudes and altitudes that they had not previously inhabited. The most recent data from The Lancet Countdown indicates that the risk of dengue outbreaks in southern Europe was 6.8% higher during the period 2013-2022 than between 1951-1960.
Vanessa López, director of Salud por Derecho, states: “The climate crisis is a public health issue that requires the implementation of more ambitious policies to reduce the emission of fossil fuels. These emissions are the primary cause of climate change and poor air quality, which are key environmental determinants of human health. Adaptation plans, including those specific to health, must be strengthened and tailored to local contexts. Furthermore, the implementation of climate action policies necessitates a collaborative approach between the departments for health, transport, and energy. This approach is essential to ensure the coherence and strength of these policies, which have thus far been less robust than is necessary.”
Roadmap
In its report, Salud por Derecho identifies the necessity for the urgent implementation of specific public policies. The document calls for Spain to cease the use of fossil fuels and to promote the use of renewable energy sources. This entails concrete commitments, including the reduction of emissions by 80% by 2035 and the achievement of 100% clean energy by 2040. Actions designed to encourage the use of active mobility, public transport and the implementation of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) or restricted traffic areas align with this objective. Conversely, it is emphasised that all these measures would be included in the new European directive on air quality, which is currently undergoing final approval. Salud por Derecho is requesting that the Administration implement the directive in its most ambitious version as soon as possible.
Furthermore, the document highlights the importance of prioritising health in the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PNACC). It recommends the strengthening of specific health adaptation plans, including strategies on extreme temperatures, vector-borne diseases and the protection of the most vulnerable people. Additionally, the report identifies solutions that are being implemented in specific regions and should be expanded more widely, such as the creation of green spaces in urban areas, the design of healthy environments, the construction of climate shelters, or what are known as blue zones (lakes or fountains).
In the recommendations chapter, it also urges the implementation of necessary migration and asylum procedures to guarantee the rights of individuals migrating due to the climate crisis, which is increasing due to the dangers caused by the growing intensity and frequency of extreme meteorological phenomena.
As Vanessa López notes: “The impact of climate change on health is a tangible and documented phenomenon that demands immediate and decisive action. The lack of committed authorities and effective action will have a severely detrimental impact on our well-being in the future.” She goes on to state: “It is imperative that a unified and decisive response be implemented at both the national and European Union levels to address this crisis with the gravity it deserves.”
Read and download the report here:
