How does climate change affect people's health in the UK?

This briefing paper has also been published individually as a webpage: How does climate change affect people's health in the UK?

Authors: Dr Neil Jennings, Dr Emma Lawrance, Dr Ilaria Dorigatti

Media enquiries: grantham.media@imperial.ac.uk
Policy enquiries: neil.jennings@imperial.ac.uk

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, storms and floods. But how do these events affect people’s health? 

This background briefing outlines how people’s health is directly and indirectly affected by climate change and what can be done to reduce these impacts.

Key points

• Climate change is already impacting the physical and mental health of people in the UK.
• Health impacts include an increase in deaths during periods of extreme heat, an increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder for people affected by flooding and an increased risk of certain infectious diseases including Lyme disease.
• People aged over 65 years old, those on lower incomes, ethnic minorities and people with preexisting health conditions (e.g. heart disease) are at greater risk of these health impacts.
• The health impacts of climate change will increase in the absence of sufficient mitigation of greenhouse gases and adaptation to a warming climate.