Three Ways to Build Back Greener in Community Health

Apr 7, 2022 | Shirley Ko
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Yet another IPCC report published this week reminds us that we are at a critical crossroads to slow the rate of global warming. As COVID-19 gradually shifts to an endemic phase, and we hear a clarion call for the world to “build back greener,” those of us working to achieve SDG 3 (good health and well-being) have a timely opportunity to make our support for communities and health systems more resilient.

COVID-19 and the concurrent climate crisis underscore how human health is intricately connected to the health of our environment. Climate change creates severe heat, more intense and frequent flooding, and adverse temperature and seasonal weather patterns that influence vector-borne diseases. These climate risks directly affect physical and mental health outcomes. They also trigger a chain reaction of socio-economic stresses that compound threats to health in vulnerable communities, such as diminished food security, disrupted livelihoods and mass migrations.

Many measures to counter climate change, likewise, bring substantial health benefits. Switching to clean and renewable energy sources can reduce harmful air pollutants that are associated with lung and heart diseases and 4.2 million premature deaths a year. A growing body of evidence links exposure to air pollution to adverse maternal and newborn outcomes. Initiatives that accelerate uptake of renewable energy and offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contribute positively to overall public health.