Health care systems
and facilities
This report outlines the research and engagement activities carried out during the Discovery Phase of the Standards for Official Statistics on Climate-Health Interactions (SOSCHI) project in 2022-23 and the main findings from those activities. In the Discovery Phase, we focused on understanding the needs for official statistics on the health impacts of climate change among different types of users and identifying existing indicator sets and statistical resources about climate and health.
This report outlines the research and engagement activities carried out during the Alpha Phase of the Standards for Official Statistics on Climate-Health Interactions (SOSCHI) project in 2023-24 and the main outcomes from those activities. In the Alpha Phase, we focused on exploring relevant indicator methodologies and broadening our engagement with global experts and other interested groups.
Climate change is altering global temperature trends. Increasing the frequency, intensity, and duration of temperature extremes in many countries. Extreme hot and cold temperatures can cause or exacerbate a range of illnesses through varied physiological mechanisms. This topic area aims to quantify the health impacts attributable to temperature variation, using a time-series approach.
Climate change is a global challenge that has significant implications for human health. Rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events are directly impacting health outcomes across the globe. The interaction between climate change and health is especially evident in the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are further exacerbated by environmental shifts.
This topic area demonstrates how temperature extremes impact NCD outcomes. Going forward, the methodological approach for indicators within this topic area will be combined with the heat- and cold-related mortality topic.
Flooding
Climate change is increasing the frequency, intensity, and duration of hot and dry conditions, which increases the risk of wildfires. These are defined as uncontrolled or unplanned fires that occur in vegetated areas. Wildfire hazards are predominantly fire and its associated smoke and air pollution. Wildfire exposure increases the risk of mortality and morbidity. Vulnerability to this exposure is controlled by demographic and socioeconomic factors, thus risk is not distributed evenly within populations. This topic area aims to quantify the health impacts attributable to wildfire smoke, using a case-crossover approach.
Air pollution
Climate change is leading to more frequent and intense high temperatures, droughts, and wildfires. These changes promote the spread of certain airborne diseases which are impacted by warm temperatures, dry conditions, dusty winds, overcrowding, and poor sanitation. One airborne disease which is particularly impacted by these conditions is Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM). CSM is prevalent in the African Meningitis Belt and has severe health impacts. This topic area aims to quantify the health impacts of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) attributable to high temperatures.
Climate change is leading to more extreme temperatures and precipitation. These changes promote the spread of certain waterborne diseases which are impacted by extreme temperatures, contamination of waterbodies through runoff, dry conditions, water scarcity, and poor sanitation. Diarrheal disease is one of the most prevalent waterborne diseases and is highly impacted by these climatic conditions. Diarrheal disease is a public health concern particularly among young children and in Sub-Saharan Africa. This topic area aims to quantify the health impacts of diarrheal disease attributable to extreme temperatures and precipitation.
Climate change is leading to more extreme temperatures and precipitation. These changes promote the spread of certain vector-borne diseases which are impacted by warmer temperatures, humidity, and heavy rainfall. Malaria is a significant public health issue, particularly in tropical and subtropical world regions, and is highly impacted by these climatic changes. This topic area aims to quantify the health impacts of malaria attributable to extreme temperatures and precipitation.
Climate change is leading to more extreme temperatures, precipitation, and other weather events. These changes exacerbate conditions which lead to malnutrition, a health condition resulting from an imbalance in dietary intake, where nutrients are either insufficiently or overly consumed, leading to adverse health effects. Conditions which impact malnutrition include soil fertility, crop and livestock production and diversity, food and water security, and sanitation. This topic area aims to quantify the health impacts of malnutrition attributable to extreme temperatures, precipitation, and drought.
Climate change is leading to more frequent and extreme climate-related hazards that influence mental health outcomes. Direct impacts on mental health can arise from increased exposure to extreme temperatures and extreme weather events. Indirect impacts can be due to displacement, malnutrition, conflict, climate-related economic and social losses, along with anxiety and distress associated with worry about climate change. This topic area aims to quantify the mental health impacts, specifically suicides, attributable to extreme temperatures, using a case-crossover approach.
Climate change is leading to more extreme temperatures, precipitation, and weather events. These changes impact the presence of harmful chemicals in the environment through factors such as contamination of waterbodies through runoff, reduced dilution of waterbodies, and greater use of agricultural chemicals to support crop and cattle yield in warm and dry conditions. Exposure to these contaminants is linked with a range of health outcomes. This Topic Introduction provides an overview of the process we took to identify a climate-health chemical contaminants indicator. This process identified significant limitations in data availability and knowledge within this field. As a result, the SOSCHI framework will not include an indicator on chemical contaminants. We make recommendations for future developments within the field and highlight Harmful Algal Blooms as a potential future indicator.