Our health is inextricably linked to the environment in which we live. On the other hand, our climate is changing, with serious consequences for our health, well-being, and safety. Climate change is the greatest serious threat to global health in the twenty-first century. Climate change impacts and will affect health in two ways: directly (heat waves, droughts, strong storms, and sea-level rise) and indirectly (vector-borne and airborne illnesses, food and water shortages, undernutrition, and forced displacements).

Long-term changes in the planet’s weather patterns are referred to as climate change. The recent changes in our climate are mostly the result of human activities. Without action, the consequences of climate change will be disastrous and far-reaching for our state, the nation, and the rest of the world. It is a critical issue that affects worldwide, national, local, and individual levels. Climate change threatens to devastate the preceding fifty years of development, global health, and poverty reduction initiatives, as well as to worsen health inequities between and among populations. It jeopardizes the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC) in a variety of ways, including increasing the present sickness burden and intensifying existing barriers to receiving health care, usually at the most important times.

What’s exciting is that there are simple things we can all do right now to strengthen our resilience to the effects of climate change and help slow its pace. Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies provide an incredible opportunity to improve health by promoting sustainable diets and food systems, creating more walkable, bikeable, and transit-supported cities and communities, providing universal, rights-based access to sexual and reproductive health services, cleaning up the air, water, and soil, and strengthening community collaboration, cohesion, and resilience. Many of these actions will also have an immediate positive impact on our health, the environment, and wallets.