Climate Change and Health: Understanding Inequalities in a Warming World
Date:
In this talk, I discussed on the intersection of climate change, health, and social inequality, with a particular focus on Mongolia and other climate-vulnerable regions in the world.
Key themes include:
- Global Climate Trends: Historical warming patterns and future projections under different emissions pathways (SSPs).
- Health Impacts of Warming: How even a 1–2 °C rise intensifies heat stress, respiratory diseases, nutrition challenges, and mental-health risks.
- Vulnerable Populations: Disproportionate burdens faced by children, older adults, women, rural and low-income communities.
- Mongolia’s Climate-Risk Profile: Warming by ≈ 2.2 °C since 1940, shrinking glaciers and lakes, expanding arid zones, and health threats from drought-driven dust storms.
- Gender and Health Inequities: How social, economic, and biological factors combine to heighten women’s vulnerability.
- Case Study – Japan: Evidence of intergenerational inequities in the health burden of lifetime exposure to extreme heat.
- Pathways to Action: Mitigation, targeted adaptation, and resilient health systems to protect equity in a warming world.
The session highlighted that while climate-related health risks are unavoidable, their severity is not. Timely emission reductions and inclusive adaptation strategies can substantially reduce harm and advance health equity across the globe.