Climate and Health: Understand risks, impacts and how to act to protect your health and wellbeing

Understanding climate change

The climate is changing due to global warming, driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. The environmental consequences of climate change are a threat to human health and wellbeing. The changing climate can also create negative social, political and economic changes, such as disruptions to food production.

Environmental consequences

  • Higher temperatures contribute to heatwaves, droughts, and changing environments, affecting nature and human communities.

  • Melting ice caps and warmer ocean temperatures cause sea levels to rise, leading to coastal erosion, flooding, and loss of land.

  • Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as floods and droughts, causing widespread damage to infrastructure, ecosystems and communities.

  • Climate change is affecting ecosystems and habitats at a rate that makes it difficult for animals and plants to adapt. This can affect air, water and food quality and availability and the spread of diseases.

How could climate change affect my health?

  • Injuries, mental health impacts and loss of life due to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and bushfires
  • Increased heat-related deaths and health problems such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke due to higher temperatures and heatwaves
  • Worsening of heart and lung conditions, including asthma, due to higher temperatures, poorer air quality and increased pollen
  • Poorer health and wellbeing from rising food, insurance and power costs, disruption to essential services, property damage or loss and temporary relocation due to extreme weather events
  • Food and water insecurity from changes in crop yields and freshwater from reduced rainfall
  • More diseases spread from animals and mosquitoes due to warmer temperatures, flooding and changes in habitats
  • Increased food and water-borne illnesses due to increased temperatures and extreme weather events

Who is most at risk?

Some people are at greater risk of climate-related health impacts, including:

  • Children and young people
  • Pregnant women and their unborn babies
  • People over 65 years of age
  • People on low incomes
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • Culturally and linguistically diverse people
  • People who already have a medical condition

How can I protect my and others’ health and wellbeing?

Take action to reduce your impact

There are lots of things that you can do to reduce your own impact on the climate and improve your health at the same time.

  • Walk, cycle, or use public transport to reduce emissions, improve local air quality and improve health.

  • Cool and heat your home efficiently to help you remain comfortable year-round, reduce emissions and save on energy costs.

  • Choose tap water over bottled water and sugary drinks. It’s better for health and the environment, and a lot cheaper too.

  • Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

  • Choose fresh, local and seasonal food to reduce emissions and support local farmers and communities.

  • Visit the Climate Superpowers website to discover different ways you can take action.

What actions are government and communities taking?

The Victorian Government, local councils and communities across Victoria are taking action to tackle climate change and its impacts on health.  

Visit the Victorian Government’s climate change website or contact your local council to find out more.

Downloadable assets

Get in touch

Climate CATCH Lab logo

climate-catchlab@unimelb.edu.au

The development of this resource was funded through a VicHealth Impact Research Grant. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of VicHealth. We also acknowledge the generous contributions of state and local government policymakers who co-designed this resource.

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