Holistic global action needed to address climate-linked health threats

The review highlights that rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, urban expansion, and seasonality changes are influencing the distribution of mosquito- and tick-borne diseases. Heatwaves, floods, and droughts are compounding risks by weakening health systems and increasing exposure to unsafe water, food insecurity, and air pollution.

Researchers have warned that climate change is reshaping the health landscape, increasing risks for both infectious and non-communicable diseases. Their systematic review, published in Climate and titled “The Effects of Climate Change on Health: A Systematic Review from a One Health Perspective”, finds that climate-related hazards threaten human, animal, and environmental health in interconnected ways and calls for coordinated One Health responses.

The researchers stress that the rising frequency of extreme events, including heatwaves, floods, droughts, storms, and wildfires, combined with gradual shifts in temperature and precipitation, is amplifying the spread of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases and putting mental health under unprecedented strain. They highlight the urgent need for cross-sectoral policies, surveillance, and capacity building to prepare health systems for future climate pressures.

Escalating health burdens in a warming world

The review mapped scientific output from 1991 to 2024 by analyzing 20,735 studies on climate and health, of which 5,956 addressed vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, health systems, or surveillance. Yet, fewer than 1 percent of these studies applied a One Health framework that links human, animal, and ecosystem health.

The findings reveal that the range of health threats associated with climate change has grown steadily over the past three decades. Initial attention in the early 1990s centered on infectious diseases such as dengue, cholera, malaria, and yellow fever. Since then, research has broadened to include other vector-borne and zoonotic diseases like schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Ebola, rabies, Chagas, Zika, Chikungunya, and even COVID-19.

The review highlights that rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, urban expansion, and seasonality changes are influencing the distribution of mosquito- and tick-borne diseases. Heatwaves, floods, and droughts are compounding risks by weakening health systems and increasing exposure to unsafe water, food insecurity, and air pollution.

Equally concerning is the growing body of evidence linking climate impacts to mental health challenges. Communities exposed to disasters, ecosystem loss, and slow-onset environmental change are experiencing heightened rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and climate-related distress such as eco-anxiety and solastalgia.

Vulnerable groups identified by the authors include women, children, older adults, rural and Indigenous populations, smallholder farmers, and residents of coastal and low-lying regions who face intensified exposure and limited access to health services.

Gaps in knowledge and the need for stronger systems

The review found a stark mismatch between the scale of climate-related health risks and the current focus of research. Although climate change is increasingly recognized as a health emergency, investment in One Health-oriented research, surveillance, and preparedness remains minimal. Areas such as integrated disease monitoring, citizen-science participation, and climate-linked health system planning account for less than 1 percent of the literature.

The authors call for expanding interdisciplinary collaboration to better understand how environmental changes affect disease vectors, wildlife reservoirs, and human exposure pathways. They recommend prioritizing experimental studies that examine the biology and ecology of disease vectors under changing climate conditions.

The paper also points to the importance of strengthening public health capacity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where health systems often lack the resources to respond to climate-related hazards. This includes boosting early-warning systems for heatwaves, floods, and disease outbreaks; improving training for frontline health workers; and integrating climate risk management into national health strategies.

Participatory approaches, including community-based and citizen-science monitoring, are highlighted as vital for reaching marginalized populations and supporting adaptation in rural and traditional communities.

Towards integrated One Health action on climate and health

The authors argue that addressing climate-related health threats requires a shift away from fragmented responses toward a holistic One Health approach. They stress that policies must recognize the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health and align strategies across public health, veterinary services, environmental management, and disaster-risk reduction.

Key recommendations include:

• Embedding One Health in global and national climate-health agendas to guide research priorities and funding.
• Building cross-disciplinary partnerships to link epidemiological data with climate modeling and ecological studies.
• Developing early-warning and vector-control programs that respond to climate-driven shifts in disease distribution.
• Expanding educational and training initiatives to prepare a new generation of health professionals to manage the interface of climate, ecosystems, and health.

The authors conclude that as climate change accelerates, integrating One Health principles into climate adaptation strategies is critical to safeguarding public health, enhancing preparedness for future pandemics, and ensuring equitable protection for vulnerable populations