The World Health Organization estimates that between 2030 and 2050 – just 15 years from now – climate change will cause an estimated 250,000 additional deaths per year. This staggering total includes mortality from diseases like malaria, diarrhea and heat stress, as well as starvation or malnutrition wrought by crop failures.
Unfortunately, most climate change actions will target the desperately poor of the world, those people least able to effect change and cope with the unfolding disaster.
These include countries without a strong infrastructure, poor sanitation, bad transportation, no established and strong agricultural base, and poor to non-existent health facilities.
Weather and Health
Heat-related illnesses and death will rise as the world’s temperature warms. It will also impact air quality, leading to more respiratory illnesses and potential fatalities. Heat waves reduce general production and affect crops, which has a further snowball effect on local health. Weather-related damage from a growing number of so-called extreme events, including larger storms, flooding and droughts will exacerbate health problems. Population growth in these areas will strain resources, and migrations similar to the current exodus from Africa, the Middle East and other regions may grow, leading to other public health issues. Even countries with good public health systems may be impacted as the number of hotter days and the growing population impact available resources.
The problems aren’t just confined to third-world countries. In the United States, the rising number of 100-plus-degree days is stressing particularly vulnerable populations, including the poor, the elderly, children in poverty and people with pre-existing medical conditions that may be exacerbated by the chain of events that can occur when traveling and other heat-related issues arise. The number of elderly people in the United States (defined as those older than age 65) is expected to reach more than 20 percent by 2050, creating a larger pool of the infirm.