HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS HUMAN HEALTH

Abstract

Climate change, driven by natural and human activities, poses a significant global threat affecting agriculture, ecosystems, and human health. It increases the spread of infectious and vector-borne diseases like malaria, which affected 247 million people worldwide in 2021, causing over 619,000 deaths. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events contribute to respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal illnesses. Ozone depletion linked to climate change also raises skin cancer risks. As climate impacts worsen—through extreme weather, rising sea levels, and shifting disease patterns—human health and mortality rates increase. Effective disaster management requires continuous monitoring and adaptive policies to mitigate these health challenges.