Health is affected by climate change

Climate change refers to the change in the earth’s global and regional climate over time. Healthy people depend on having a healthy climate. The expected health impacts and implications of climate change, including those for New Zealand, have been described by a number of authoritative sources such as the World Health Organisation and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.

Some of the health impacts of expected climate changes include:

• an increase in heat-related deaths and reduced cold-related deaths to due to changes in weather patterns;
• more storms and flooding, affecting the health and wellbeing of communities;
• increased risk of vector-borne diseases (such as malaria or dengue fever from mosquitos), and food- and water-borne diseases due to ecosystem changes;
• changes in food production patterns and food security for both locally produced and imported feed, due to greater fluctuation in crop yields and a decrease in productive land;
• changes in water quality especially in rural areas leading to water allocation issues;
• flow-on social and economic impacts, contributing to increased mental health effects; and
• widening of health and social inequalities as the disadvantaged will be disproportionately impacted.

These substantial health impacts are likely and will be widespread, even though the details on the extent of these impacts are uncertain.

Our Pacific neighbours are already feeling the effects of climate changes. These countries are particularly vulnerable to the expected increases in frequency and severity of storms, as well as the sea level rise due to limited economic capacity and insecure infrastructure. New Zealand can expect migration pressure in the future from “climate refugees” from the Pacific.

Adapted from: Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) submission to the NZ Climate Change Target Discussion Document 2015.

• Find out about the potential effects of climate change on your region (Ministry of Environment 2017)

How we can combat climate change

The serious impacts of climate change on health means that efforts need to be made to address greenhouse gas emissions and move towards a low carbon future through supportive policies and programmes.

Community and Public Health supports local efforts to combat climate change by encouraging local policies to include the following:

• greater use of public transport;
• reducing overall vehicle use, and improving engine efficiency;
• reducing the amount of energy we use; and
• properly insulated houses.

Documents

• New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2018 (Ministry for the Environment 2020)
• New Zealand’s fourth biennial report under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Ministry for the Environment 2019)
• Government action towards a low-emissions economy (Ministry for the Environment 2019)
• Climate Change Projections for New Zealand – Second Edition (Ministry for the Environment 2018)
• Coastal Hazard Assessment for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula (Christchurch City Council 2017)
• Human Health Impacts of Climate Change for New Zealand (Royal Society of New Zealand 2017)
• Transition to a low-carbon economy for New Zealand (Royal Society of New Zealand 2016)

• Christchurch City Coastal Hazard Assessment – Stage Two (Christchurch City Council 2015)
• New Zealand’s changing climate and oceans: The impact of human activity and implications for the future (Office of the Prime Minister’s Science Advisory Committee 2013)
• Climate Change and Health in New Zealand: Climate Change Policy Statement (NZ College of Public Health Medicine 2013)
• Effects of Sea Level Rise for Christchurch City (Christchurch City Council 2013)
• Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – Australasia (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

Links

• Ministry for the Environment
• National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
• Vehicle Fuel Economy Calculator (EECA Energywise)
• NZ Climate Change Commission
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN)

Climate change not so cool: Heat Health Plan Guidelines

The Ministry of Health’s Heat Health Plan Guidelines were launched in January 2019.

“Climate change is a big threat to our society, and we need to plan for anticipated weather like hotter days now,” says Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter. “Our health will be impacted by climate change, and we need to ensure we are all ready.”

The number of days where the temperature exceeds 25 degrees Celsius is expected to increase between 40 and 100 percent by 2040.

“Extreme heat can cause problems for everyone, but it can be especially concerning for babies and infants, pregnant women, older people, those with pre-existing medical conditions, and those with disabilities,” Ms Genter said.

“Research shows that hospital admissions and deaths increase during periods of hot weather. Climate change also has an impact on people’s productivity at work, the primary industries and our economy.”

“These Heat Health Plan Guidelines are aimed at helping health and community service providers – including local government – prepare their own plans dedicated to their community and their own predicted weather variations,” Ms Genter said.

• View the Ministry of Health Heat Health Plan Guidelines and Key Information.