Climate change and health

This paper provides an overview of the environmental, demographic, economic and social context in which climate change is occurring, and assesses its impacts on human health and wellbeing at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Drawing on existing evidence, I examine key areas in which research and practice can contribute to improved understanding and more effective responses to combat the ill effects of climate change. Particular focus is placed on the need for interventions to be both cognisant of, and responsive to, subjectively defined understandings of health, wellbeing, and environmental change, and to recognise the array of coexisting factors that mediate people’s behaviours, expectations and priorities. At the same time, I emphasise the need for climate change to be addressed as part of a coordinated worldwide response seeking to combat an array of on-going, interconnected global health issues.