Why Do We Need to Consider Health and Climate Together? OR What Are the Effects of Climate Change on Health?
Climate change poses a growing threat to health.
Its effects are already visible: the emergence or worsening of certain infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, an increase in certain chronic diseases, deteriorating mental health, and food insecurity.
Climate change also weakens health systems, exacerbates inequalities, and affects access to water, food, and other fundamental determinants of health.
In light of these developments, it is necessary to develop health systems capable of adapting to new risks, strengthen early warning and prevention systems, and involve local communities.
Why Do We Need to Adapt Health Systems to Climate Change?
Climate change is transforming health risks and exposing health systems to new challenges. Extreme weather events, evolving infectious diseases, and pressures on resources can undermine the continuity and quality of care. Adapting health systems involves, in particular, strengthening their resilience, their surveillance, prevention, and early warning capabilities, as well as their ability to anticipate and respond to new health risks. This adaptation must also incorporate the environmental and social determinants of health and take into account inequalities in the face of climate change.
What is the One Health approach, and why is it important in the face of climate change?
The One Health approach recognizes that human health, animal health, and ecosystem health are closely interconnected. It is based on a cross-sectoral approach to health risks and on collaboration among stakeholders in human health, animal health, and the environment. Climate change underscores the importance of this approach by altering the interactions between people, animals, and ecosystems and by facilitating the emergence and spread of certain health risks. Solthis uses a One Health approach to better understand and anticipate these risks, strengthen prevention efforts, and contribute to coordinated, sustainable health responses tailored to local contexts.
How does Solthis address health challenges related to climate change?
Solthis works to strengthen the capacity of health systems and local stakeholders to anticipate, prevent, and respond to health risks linked to climate change. Its approach combines the strengthening of health systems, the development of surveillance, early warning, and prevention capacities, and the involvement of local communities. By adopting a One Health approach, Solthis takes into account the interactions between human health, animal health, and the environment, and integrates environmental issues into its interventions. The goal is to contribute to health systems that are more resilient and capable of adapting to climate change, while reducing health inequities.
Our 2 sub-thematics
