Tiffany Lo-Art in Tanzania Internship
Environmental Advocacy Program
Climate change has a profound impact on both the environment and human health. Africa is projected to experience surface temperature increases faster than the global average (Pasquini, 2020). Temperature increases have been linked to rising mortality and morbidity, and marginalized groups, such as those who are economically disadvantaged, appear to have higher heat-related morbidity and mortality (Pasquini, 2020). Climate change also increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, which can lead to the desertification of fertile land and rising sea levels (How Climate Change Drives Humanitarian Crises, 2021). Conflict also tends to increase when a drought results in food shortages, which worsens the impact of economic crises that can result from various causes, such as the COVID-19 pandemic (How Climate Change Drives Humanitarian Crises, 2021). As such, mitigating the effects of climate change is vital to improving health.
Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns also worsen the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue and malaria (How Climate Change Drives Humanitarian Crises, 2021). New diseases are emerging in regions where they previously did not exist (United Nations Climate Change, 2020). A lack of access to clean water due to drought would also lead to a higher incidence of diarrhoea, a significant cause of death for children under five (How Climate Change Drives Humanitarian Crises, 2021). With the destruction of ecosystems, climate change could significantly impact the emergence of viruses like COVID-19, which often originate from animals (How Climate Change Drives Humanitarian Crises, 2021).
Climate change also negatively impacts food security, which in turn worsens health (United Nations Climate Change, 2020). The number of undernourished people in drought-prone sub-Saharan African countries has increased by 45.65% since 2012, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (United Nations Climate Change, 2020). As agriculture accounts for the majority of livelihoods in Africa, the impacts of drought, increased pest and disease damage, and flooding would negatively impact livelihoods and health due to decreasing food security and income (United Nations Climate Change, 2020).
Some groups are more impacted by climate change (Pasquini, 2020). Age influences sensitivity to heat, especially in groups such as the elderly and young (Pasquini, 2020). Individuals with underlying health issues, such as chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, are also more susceptible to heat (Pasquini, 2020). Water quantity also impacts sensitivity to heat, as drinking enough water is essential for efficient thermoregulation (Pasquini, 2020). As mentioned previously, climate change leads to drought. Without access to water, it is plausible that already vulnerable groups will become even more susceptible to dehydration, heat-related illnesses, and potentially waterborne diseases (Pasquini, 2020).
It is of utmost importance to mitigate the negative impact of climate change on health. Africa has made significant efforts to drive the global climate agenda, with over 90% of its countries ratifying the Paris Agreement. Many African countries have also committed to transitioning to green energy within a short timeframe (United Nations Climate Change, 2020). Climate change has a significant negative impact on health, and reducing its impact through the use of clean energy and promoting socioeconomic growth is vital to improving health (United Nations Climate Change, 2020).
References:
Pasquini, L., van Aardenne, L., Godsmark, C. N., Lee, J., & Jack, C. (2020). Emerging climate change-related public health challenges in Africa: A case study of the heat-health vulnerability of informal settlement residents in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Science of the total environment, 747, 141355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141355
How climate change drives humanitarian crises. (2021, April 22). Retrieved from https://www.rescue.org/article/how-climate-change-drives-humanitarian-crises
United Nations Climate Change. (2020, October 27). Climate Change Is an Increasing Threat to Africa. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://unfccc.int/news/climate-change-is-an-increasing-threat-to-africa
