How the Climate Crisis is Making Us Unwell
Following a health-related hiatus, I wanted to talk about my recent experiences which have led to today’s article on just how much climate change can affect our health.
May 2022
I was walking upstairs to call it a night and felt a sting of pain on the right side of my body. Not again I thought. Since contracting COVID-19 in January, I had experienced persistent flu and respiratory symptoms. I was in a boundless cycle of repeat antibiotics, ventolin and became well acquainted with managing fevers. At this point, I decided to strip back my responsibilities and social events based on the premise of “rest and you’ll recover quickly”. I parented my two young children and continued remunerated freelance writing. Unfortunately, my poor health including recurrent voice loss also led to a temporary pause on the PROTECT podcast.
November 2023
Upon reflection, I’ve learned that unfortunately, you can’t always control how quickly you recover. Following two bouts of COVID, I contracted multiple respiratory infections which progressed into a seven-month period of chronic pneumonia. I should mention that I am fortunate to have access to healthcare and am also well and truly vaccinated against COVID. I’ve seen more specialists and GP’s in this last year than in my entire life combined. I followed the medication protocols prescribed, and had multiple scans and x-rays which were largely inconclusive. And most doctors conceded that either “my immunity is poor” or “it’s just a bit of bad luck”.
And with the utmost sympathy for people with chronic and terminal illnesses; this type of “unwell” may seem mild but it can also be debilitating. As I reflect, I wonder – how well are any of us in today’s climate? Particularly post-pandemic and for those of us with diagnosed and sometimes undiagnosed illnesses where no amount of sleep, good food and medication seem to move the needle.
Today
Throughout this health journey, I’ve read countless articles of other people around the world in a similar situation – just not getting better. So I’ve become very conscious of my environment and looking into how the spaces we live, work and travel in can affect our wellbeing.
Recently, many health professionals have pointed to “immunity debt” as a potential cause of growing illness. This concept was coined during the pandemic, and refers to a state of weakened immune systems following multiple lockdowns and masking requirements. I am also based in Melbourne, Australia which implemented some of the strictest lockdown conditions in the world. But is this the reason entirely?
The pandemic demonstrated the deadly global risks of zoonotic diseases (where humans contract infection from animals). The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that COVID-19 likely originated in bat populations and transferred to humans via another animal. Global organisations and studies have associated zoonotic diseases and pathogen spreading with illegal wildlife trading and poor animal welfare.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused global devastation; however, it also highlighted the substantial impact of current climate activity. In fact, climate recovery was witnessed during the pandemic lockdowns. In November 2020, NASA reported that since February that year, pandemic restrictions had reduced global nitrogen dioxide concentrations (an air pollutant) by nearly 20%. The cessation of tourism to popular destinations such as Venice (Italy) saw once murky waterways and canals flow clear. The National Library of Medicine documented that the lockdowns “slowed down a lot of human stressors such as nutrients, CO2, noise, odour, and litter disposal on beaches and coastal waters. Globally, a cooling response of 0.5°C in mean sea surface temperature was observed over most of the coastal regions that resulted from the CO2 reduction…”
The COVID-19 lockdown periods, added to the scientific evidence that human activity is indeed a primary driver of climate change, also known as anthropogenic climate change. Post pandemic is an opportunity to see that climate change should remain a priority and has proved to be a heavy burden on our external environment and internal health.
This year in particular, has been horrific for wildfires across the globe affecting: The Canary Islands, the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Spain, Kazakhstan, Canada, Maui Hawaii and most recently in Queensland, Australia. This has led to widespread environmental destruction, rising death tolls and the displacement of people as many continue to burn. The forced displacement and migration of citizens due to fire conditions can result in overcrowded living conditions, inadequate sanitation and increased vulnerability to diseases. This also puts a huge strain on emergency services and healthcare systems.
Whilst climate change isn’t entirely to blame, it can support the spread and longevity of a fire through growing temperatures and drier conditions. Wildfire smoke can also cause or exacerbate existing respiratory and lung conditions. We also now know that those with indirect exposure can also be affected. Microparticles from wildfires can travel creating unprecedented air pollution, reach coastal waters and even lodge themselves into our lungs causing sometimes permanent respiratory challenges.
As we attempt to recover, it would seem that Maui forecasted the devastation and fires that occurred this year. In 2020 County of Maui sued Big Oil (a group of the world’s leading oil and gas companies). citing fire risks among other threats. They forecasted “increased frequency, intensity, and destructive force of wildfires, due to shifts in the hydrologic cycle that result in increased fuel availability and changing wind patterns”.
And from a health perspective, County of Maui reported that the “increased extreme temperatures, heat waves, and wildfires have contributed and will contribute to and exacerbate allergies, respiratory disease, and other health issues in children and adults. Vulnerable populations such as the disabled, the elderly, children, people who live alone, people of color, and less-resourced communities are more likely to suffer health effects…the County has borne and will continue to bear costs associated with mitigating and responding to these public health threats.”
These significant health challenges are widespread within numerous countries experiencing extreme weather events. Not to mention the impact on our mental health which is another topic entirely. (I have two resourceful episodes on climate anxiety which I’ll link to at the end of this article).
So it seems it’s not just a bit of bad luck after all. We are now living through an associated health and climate crisis that requires our urgent attention and action to protect communities and mitigate ongoing health risks.
Where can you start?
Well, I think that if you’re unwell, start with you. If you are part of the half of the world’s population to have access to essential healthcare services, start investigating. Be an advocate for your health and consider other possible contributing factors such as lifestyle, daily activities, consumption or diet.
Beyond our physical health, consider your voting impact in local or federal elections to ensure that the right people are committed to facilitating a healthier future. Consider where you buy and invest as there are major corporations that are gravely responsible for their share of climate challenges.
Finally, if you’re in a position to, you can support others who might be displaced or unwell from a climate event through reputable, on-the-ground organisations but please do your research to ensure organisations are official.
And above all, keep your mind in check. Most of us are doing the best we can with what we have.
Now, I want to end this article from X from Dr Charlie Gardner, an interdisciplinary researcher, conservationist and activist.
“Everything is not fine and we are not doomed. We are somewhere in between, and our position can be made better or worse by your action or apathy.”
And one more thing…
PROTECT Podcast is returning in 2024. I couldn’t be happier to bring back an array of guests to share their environmental stories with you all. Thank you for your patience, for your well wishes and for listening even while I was away. I look forward to talking to you again soon. Angela
Podcast episodes mentioned in the article:
