Climate Change Is Now a Health Crisis

When people think of climate change, they often picture melting glaciers or wild weather.

But the truth is more personal.

Climate change is now reshaping human health. And not in the future, but right now.

From extreme heat and toxic air to overwhelmed hospitals and rising mental stress, this is no longer just an environmental issue. It is a public health emergency.

Heat That Hurts

Heat waves are now one of the deadliest impacts of climate change.

According to the World Health Organization, over one third of heat-related deaths can be directly linked to human-caused warming.

The elderly are most at risk. In people over 65, heat-related deaths have increased by 70 percent in just 20 years.

In Phoenix, Arizona, a record-breaking heat wave in 2023 caused more than 600 heat-related deaths. Many of those deaths were older adults without air conditioning. People were found unresponsive in cars, overheated apartments, or waiting at uncovered bus stops.

Cities are especially dangerous. Pavement and buildings trap heat, turning neighborhoods into heat islands. Emergency rooms fill up with cases of heat stroke and exhaustion.

This is not just a problem in hot countries. In 2022, the United Kingdom recorded its first 104-degree Fahrenheit day. Most homes there have no air conditioning at all.

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Air That Makes Us Sick

Hotter weather also means more dangerous air.

Warming increases ground-level ozone and extends wildfire seasons. These events release tiny particles that get deep into our lungs and bloodstream.

In 2019, air pollution from these particles was linked to 1.8 million deaths worldwide.

When the Canadian wildfires spread in 2023, smoke turned New York City skies orange. The air quality reached hazardous levels. Schools closed. People stayed indoors. Asthma attacks spiked.

Children are especially vulnerable. One 12-year-old girl in California with asthma had to carry her inhaler to school every day during fire season. She spent weeks inside, unable to play outdoors.

Breathing clean air is becoming harder for everyone. But for some, it is nearly impossible.

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The Inequality Problem

Not everyone is affected equally.

Low-income and marginalized communities face the highest health risks. Many live in neighborhoods with high pollution, limited healthcare, and no green space.

In south-central Los Angeles, neighborhoods just a few blocks apart show major differences in asthma rates. Those with fewer trees and more traffic have worse health outcomes.

These same communities often lack air conditioning, access to doctors, or affordable medication. When climate disasters strike, they are the least protected and the slowest to recover.

In the United States, climate-related health problems already cost an estimated 820 billion dollars each year. The people hit hardest are often those with the fewest resources.

Disasters That Do Not End

Storms, floods, and droughts are becoming more intense and more frequent.

When disasters hit, they can cut off access to clean water, destroy homes, and damage hospitals.

After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, many clinics stayed closed for months. Some people missed dialysis. Others went without insulin or basic care.

Mental health also suffers. In the weeks after Hurricane Harvey, many families in Houston reported high levels of anxiety, depression, and trauma. Children who were displaced struggled to adjust. Finding therapy or support was difficult.

These effects last long after the floodwaters go down or the smoke clears.

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A Health Emergency That Needs Action

The connection between climate and health is no longer a side issue.

It is now central to how we must respond to the climate crisis.

Reducing emissions is essential. But we also need to prepare our healthcare systems. We need cleaner infrastructure. We need to protect people who are most at risk.

That means planting trees in neighborhoods that have none. Creating accessible cooling centers. Making sure every child with asthma has clean air and access to care.

Climate change is a threat to our health, our families, and our future.

The longer we delay, the more lives will be at risk.

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