Health impacts of climate change

Climate change has been described as "the biggest global health threat of the 21st century" and is likely to affect the health of millions of people worldwide. Threats include heat waves and flooding, changing patterns of infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue, and water scarcity and rising sea levels, which could displace hundreds of thousands of people. The impacts will be greatest in low- and middle-income countries.

In December 2009, the UN Climate Change Conference will meet in Copenhagen to discuss a global agreement to tackle climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Much of the debate has focused on the environment, and the health impacts are often missing from the discussion.

Follow the links below to find out more about what the Trust is doing.

Public health benefits of reducing emissions How polices to tackle climate change may directly improve health.

Climate change and health The consequences for health from changes in the climate.