Climate change and its effects made simple – CORDIS

Report on the Intersection of Climate Action, Public Health, and Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A recent article published in ‘Frontiers for Young Minds’, utilizing data from the Lancet Countdown in Europe and supported by the EU-funded CATALYSE and IDAlert projects, articulates the critical link between climate change and public health. This report analyzes the article’s findings through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the necessity of integrated action to achieve global targets. The analysis demonstrates that climate action is not merely an environmental issue but a fundamental pillar for advancing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), supported by progress on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Climate Change Impacts on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The publication underscores the direct threats climate change poses to human health, challenging the achievement of SDG 3. By translating abstract climate concepts into tangible health risks, it reinforces the urgency of protective measures. Key health impacts identified include:

• Heat-Related Illnesses: Increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves pose significant risks to vulnerable groups, including the elderly and outdoor workers.
• Air Pollution and Non-Communicable Diseases: Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to poor air quality, leading to a higher incidence of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.
• Food and Water Insecurity: Climate-induced droughts can lead to shortages of essential resources, impacting nutrition and sanitation.
• Climate-Related Hazards: Wildfires, resulting from dry conditions, cause respiratory problems and eye irritation from smoke exposure.
• Allergies and Asthma: Changes in climate patterns lead to longer flowering seasons, exacerbating pollen allergies and asthma.
• Infectious Disease Transmission: Altered environmental conditions facilitate the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, and Lyme disease, a challenge addressed by the IDAlert project.

Advancing SDG 13: Climate Action through Health-Focused Strategies

The report reframes the climate debate, positioning public health as a primary motivator for achieving SDG 13. The CATALYSE project aims to close the knowledge-to-action gap by emphasizing the health benefits of climate policies. This approach encourages public support for measures that protect both planetary and human health. Key strategies that align with SDG 13 include:

1. Climate Change Adaptation: Implementing measures to manage the unavoidable impacts of climate change is critical. This includes developing robust early warning systems for heatwaves, floods, and disease outbreaks to enable timely public health responses.
2. Building Systemic Resilience: Strengthening healthcare systems is essential to manage the new and intensified health challenges introduced by climate change, ensuring they can provide continuous care during climate-related emergencies.
3. Integrating Health into Climate Policy: By highlighting the health co-benefits of climate action, such as improved air quality from reduced fossil fuel consumption, policies can gain broader public and political support.

Contribution to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article advocates for specific urban interventions that build resilience and directly contribute to the targets of SDG 11. These measures aim to create healthier, safer, and more sustainable living environments for growing urban populations.

• Development of Green Spaces: Increasing parks and green areas in cities helps mitigate the urban heat island effect, improves air quality, and enhances the physical and mental well-being of residents.
• Sustainable Infrastructure: Promoting the renovation of buildings to improve energy efficiency and thermal comfort protects inhabitants from extreme temperatures while reducing the urban carbon footprint.

The Role of SDG 4 and SDG 17: Education and Partnerships

The initiative’s success is rooted in its commitment to education and collaboration, reflecting the principles of SDG 4 and SDG 17.

• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The article itself serves as a vital educational tool. By presenting scientific information in accessible language, it promotes climate literacy and empowers individuals, particularly youth, to advocate for sustainable development.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The effort exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, combining the research of the Lancet Countdown with the targeted action of EU projects CATALYSE and IDAlert. This collaboration is crucial for translating scientific evidence into effective policies and public health interventions.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article’s central theme is the direct impact of climate change on public health. It explicitly states that climate action is crucial for “protecting people’s health from climate change.” It details numerous health risks, including heart and lung diseases from air pollution, breathing problems from wildfires, exacerbated allergies and asthma, and the spread of infectious diseases like dengue and malaria. The article also mentions the need for “stronger health systems” to cope with these challenges.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article discusses urban-specific adaptation measures. It mentions the need for “more green spaces in urban areas” and “building renovation” as ways to mitigate the health impacts of climate change in cities. This directly relates to creating resilient and sustainable urban environments that can protect residents from climate-related threats like heatwaves.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • This is the foundational SDG for the entire article. The text begins by describing climate change and its signs, such as “floods to droughts and wildfires.” It advocates for “climate action” and discusses the importance of both adaptation and mitigation. The article highlights the need to close the “knowledge-to-action gap to accelerate climate change action” and emphasizes measures like “early warning systems for heatwaves, floods and disease outbreaks.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.3: “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.” This is relevant as the article explains how climate change “can also make it easier for infectious diseases such as dengue, malaria and Lyme disease to spread.”
   • Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article directly connects to this target by stating that “air polluted with greenhouse gases can cause heart and lung diseases” and that wildfires lead to “breathing problems and eye irritation.”
   • Target 3.d: “Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.” This is addressed when the article discusses the importance of “early warning systems for heatwaves, floods and disease outbreaks” and the need for “stronger health systems to handle the new health challenges.”
2. Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality…” The article’s mention of how “air polluted with greenhouse gases can cause heart and lung diseases” points to the need to improve urban air quality, a key component of this target.
   • Target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…” This target is directly identified through the article’s suggestion of creating “more green spaces in urban areas” as a climate change adaptation measure.
3. Under SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The article focuses heavily on this target by discussing “climate change adaptation” measures, including “early warning systems for heatwaves, floods and disease outbreaks,” creating green spaces, and renovating buildings to cope with climate impacts.
   • Target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” The article itself, published in the ‘Frontiers for Young Minds’ journal, is an example of an initiative aimed at this target. It seeks to explain the link between climate and health in “simple language” to make the issue “more relatable and urgent” and encourage public action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention explicit quantitative indicators but implies several qualitative and quantitative ones through the issues it discusses:

• Incidence of climate-related health issues: The article’s focus on health problems implies that progress could be measured by tracking the rates of “heart and lung diseases” linked to air pollution, “breathing problems” from wildfires, cases of “pollen allergies and asthma,” and the spread of “infectious diseases such as dengue, malaria and Lyme disease.”
• Development and implementation of early warning systems: The text highlights the importance of “early warning systems for heatwaves, floods and disease outbreaks.” An indicator of progress would be the number of communities or regions covered by such effective systems.
• Availability of urban green spaces: The recommendation for “more green spaces in urban areas” suggests that the percentage of urban area dedicated to green space could be a key indicator.
• Strength of health systems: The call for “stronger health systems” implies that indicators related to healthcare capacity, such as the ability to handle surges in climate-related illnesses or the integration of climate change into health planning, could be used to measure progress.
• Public awareness and understanding: The article’s goal is to help people “understand how climate change endangers their lives” to encourage action. Progress towards this could be measured through surveys assessing public knowledge and perception of the health impacts of climate change.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cordis.europa.eu