Protecting our beautiful planet is an essential shared responsibility of the human race, one that many of us do not seem to take seriously enough unfortunately. Some might argue that it is due to an inherently self-centered human nature, but what if more people understood how dangerous climate change is for them personally for their health and safety? Climate change issues for the average person are kind of like a bad report card for a 3rd grader failing math. ‘If I ignore the report card, it doesn’t exist.’ Yet, similarly, with an elementary school grade, eventually Mother Nature shows up and delivers a reckoning.

It’s getting hot in here …

(Adapted from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) article, “Climate Impacts on Human Health”)

Temperatures are trending at warmer averages, equating to hot brutal days of searing sun and seemingly never-ending heat waves. A popsicle and a dip in the pool just won’t cut it. And when it comes to health, feeling hot can be more than just uncomfortable. Rising temperatures mean a likely increase in heat-related deaths in the thousands to tens of thousands, such as fatalities related to heat stroke, dehydration, respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

Those that spend more time outdoors, such as student-athletes and outdoor workers, often have more exposure to extreme heat. Vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, young children, older adults and people with particular medical issues cannot regulate their body temperature as effectively. Air conditioning, of course ,provides some relief, though it is a bit of a Catch 22 to use it as air conditioning negatively effects climate change. Tightly packed-in urban areas are recorded to frequently seal in the heat more acutely compared to rural surrounding areas, leading to heat-related health complications and increases in air pollution during heat waves.

Can’t Catch My Breath

Whether indoors or outdoors, climate change influences the breathability and quality of the air around us. Shifts in the weather and warmer temperatures can worsen air quality, therefore increasing the likelihood of asthma attacks and other respiratory responses. Wildfires are also increasing in prevalence, creating smoke and other harmful air pollution. Carbon dioxide levels on the rise along with temperature is a perfect storm to promote increased production and season time of airborne allergens, such as the dreaded ragweed pollen.

The American Lung Association’s 2024 “State of the Air” report noted that despite several decades of effort to reduce air pollution, 39% of Americans–roughly 131 million people–live in places that fail to maintain a healthy level of ozone or particle pollution. Ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant commonly found in smog, which can damage lungs as well as harm lung functionality. Warm, stagnant air is a breeding ground for ozone, so climate change will likely increase ground-level ozone in urban areas and increase the number of days per year of bad air quality.

Particulate matter is another category of particular concern, referring to super small particles and liquid droplets hanging in the air. Some are naturally occurring like dust, sea spray and wildfire smoke, while others are man-made from burning fossil fuels and other human activities. The inhalation of fine particles can contribute to a host of adverse health outcomes, such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease. The increase of wildfires and their severity is worrying as well, as particle debris from the smoke can often travel vast distances in the wind.

What Just Bit Me?

Are you a fan of mosquitos, ticks and fleas? Yeah, me neither. Unfortunately, climate change appears to be their best friend. Pests like these are called vectors and often carry vectorborne diseases, such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Vectors serve as the accidental middleman that spread diseases from animals to humans when they feed on both interchangeably. The West Nile Virus, for example, is common in certain bird species and spread through mosquitoes. Poor countries with limited health resources are often most impacted by climate-sensitive diseases because of the lack of capacity to prevent or treat the illnesses, especially on a large scale.

Climate conditions directly affect how many pests hatch in a season and how far their geographic range will reach. Rising air temperatures make it so that ticks will likely become active earlier in the season and with an expanded northward range. Ticks are carriers of Lyme disease, which can produce fatigue, fever, headache and a recognizable skin rash.

Whether the Weather Will Improve

If all the downed trees in Georgia lately are any indication, we are in big trouble where weather is concerned. Extreme weather events related to climate change are becoming more and more frequent. Whether it’s excessive rain, flooding, drought or storms, the health of the general public typically takes a hit. Access for safe food and drink suffers, as well as disrupting communication and essential travel or transport. And if evacuation is required, it is a major risk and strain to older adults and those with mobility challenges.

Increased rainfall and temperature can result in contamination of drinking water and public recreational water. Consumption or contact with contaminated water can result in gastrointestinal illness like diarrhea, liver damage, kidney damage or harm to internal nervous and respiratory systems. Food safety can similarly be compromised in extreme weather events, restricting access and transport as well increasing potential exposure to bacteria through water usage.

Conclusion

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the dangers of climate change for the planet and for our health. We need to take extensive measures personally and corporately to begin to change the tide and help our Earth heal.

For those interested in a formal education centered around how human activity affects the world we inhabit, Life University offers a unique B.A. in Environment and Sustainability program committed to social change and the need for positive, proactive transformation of human-ecological relations. The program is designed to equip students with the skills they need to become thinkers and practitioners capable of reimagining and reinventing human-environment relations in the age of climate change. Please visit life.edu for more information.