Questão de Língua Portuguesa

Climate Change and Human Health

Climate change is increasingly recognized as one of the greatest global health challenges of the twenty-first century. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), environmental changes associated with rising temperatures are already affecting food security, air quality, water availability, and the spread of infectious diseases in several regions of the world. Extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heat waves have also contributed to injuries, forced migration, and increased pressure on health systems. Scientists emphasize that the health impacts of climate change are not distributed equally. Populations living in poverty, communities with limited access to healthcare, older adults, and individuals with chronic diseases are often more vulnerable to climate-related risks. In addition, air pollution associated with fossil fuel combustion has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, contributing to millions of premature deaths every year. For this reason, public health specialists argue that climate action should not be viewed only as an environmental responsibility. Policies focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, expanding disease prevention programs, and improving environmental sustainability may also protect human health and reduce social inequalities. Many experts therefore defend the integration of climate adaptation strategies into long-term public health planning. Adapted from: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO). Climate change and health. Geneva: WHO, 2023. Available on WHO official website. Accessed on: May 18, 2026.