September 26 marks World Environmental Health Day, a global reminder that the state of our planet and the state of our health are inseparable. The theme for 2025, “Clean Air, Healthy People,” highlights the vital role of air quality in safeguarding public health and how climate change threatens to undermine it.
Air is life’s most basic necessity, yet it is increasingly under threat from rising global temperatures, wildfires, industrial emissions, and urban pollution. Climate change is intensifying these challenges, making the theme more urgent than ever.
In this Article
The Climate–Health Connection
Our health depends on clean air, safe water, nutritious food, and stable ecosystems. Climate change disrupts each of these essentials. Rising global temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, polluted air, and biodiversity loss create a ripple effect that touches every aspect of human life.
When the planet’s systems destabilise, our bodies and communities do too.
Direct Health Impacts
1. Heat-Related Illnesses
Extreme heat is one of the most visible health threats. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures increases the risk of heatstroke, dehydration, and cardiovascular complications. In cities, the “urban heat island” effect intensifies these risks, making vulnerable populations especially unsafe.
2. Respiratory Issues – The Clean Air Crisis
This year’s theme, “Clean Air, Healthy People,” draws attention to the direct link between air quality and human health. Climate change fuels wildfires, dust storms, and smog, releasing fine particles that penetrate deep into the lungs. These pollutants worsen asthma, chronic bronchitis, and allergies, while rising temperatures also increase ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant.
Without urgent action to protect clean air, millions more will suffer respiratory illness in the coming decades.
3. Infectious Diseases
Changing climate patterns are altering the range of disease-carrying insects. Mosquitoes that spread malaria, dengue, and Zika are now appearing in areas that were previously too cool for them. Tick-borne illnesses are also on the rise as habitats expand.
4. Food and Water Insecurity
Floods and droughts disrupt agriculture, leading to reduced crop yields and rising food prices. Malnutrition, particularly among children, is a growing concern. Extreme weather also compromises clean water supplies, fuelling the spread of waterborne diseases.
Indirect Health Impacts
Beyond physical illness, climate change is reshaping mental and social health. Communities struck by floods, storms, or wildfires often face trauma, stress, and eco-anxiety. Climate-related migration is forcing families to leave their homes, straining resources and sometimes leading to conflict. These pressures place heavy burdens on healthcare systems already stretched thin.
Vulnerable Populations
Climate change does not affect everyone equally. Children, the elderly, and pregnant women are at higher risk of illness. Low-income communities, particularly in developing countries, often lack the resources to adapt or recover from climate shocks. Indigenous groups, whose lives are closely tied to land and natural cycles, face disproportionate cultural and health losses.
Global and Local Responses
The international community is responding, with organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and The United Nations (UN) are integrating health into climate policy. National governments are working on adaptation plans that strengthen healthcare systems and protect vulnerable communities. Locally, communities are developing resilience strategies, whether through early warning systems, climate-smart agriculture, or urban green spaces that reduce heat and improve air quality.
What Can Be Done?
Addressing the health impacts of climate change requires action at every level:
- Governments must commit to ambitious climate policies that reduce emissions and protect clean air.
- Healthcare systems need to prepare for climate-related emergencies and disease shifts.
- Communities can embrace sustainable practices, build resilience, and advocate for cleaner, greener environments.
- Individuals can take action by reducing waste, cutting air pollutants, planting trees, and raising awareness.
Every action counts and collectively, small changes can make a powerful difference.
Conclusion
On this World Environmental Health Day, under the theme “Clean Air, Healthy People,” the message is clear: protecting the planet means protecting our health. Climate change is not just an environmental challenge, it’s a public health emergency. By recognising the deep link between clean air, a healthy environment, and human well-being, we can push for stronger action and build a safer, more sustainable future for all.
Planet Pulse 
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