How Is the Climate Crisis Affecting Human Lives and Health?
How Is the Climate Crisis Affecting Human Lives and Health?
The climate crisis on Earth is worsening with every passing day, becoming a matter of serious concern for the future of the planet and its inhabitants. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 99% of the world population is breathing impure air which exceeds safety limits and therefore puts lives at risk. Owing to high levels of pollution in cities, people residing in urban areas across the globe - especially those in low or middle-income nations - bear the maximum brunt of this climate change. Keeping this in mind, VASTRA is a renowned NGO in India for healthcare that works to make basic healthcare accessible to underprivileged groups in the country.
The United Nations (UN) states that around 13 million deaths occurring globally every year are due to preventable environmental factors like climate change. It has a direct impact on our health by not only deteriorating the quality of air we breathe, but also the water we drink and the food we consume.
Read On To Understand How The Climate Crisis Is Affecting Human Lives And Health:
Pollution in India
Based on a study conducted last year, almost 30.7% of deaths in India are said to be because of air pollution triggered by fossil fuels. As per the World Air Quality Report published by the Swiss organisation IQ air, our country also has one of the worst records on pollution worldwide. 35 Indian cities have been featured in the list of 50 global cities having the poorest air quality in this report, with Delhi continuing to be the most polluted capital city in the world.
The Impact of Pollution on Health
- According to WHO, particulate matter present in polluted air - particularly PM 2.5 - can enter deep inside our lungs and get absorbed into our bloodstream, contributing to respiratory, cerebrovascular, and cardiovascular diseases. Apart from this, it can have an adverse effect on other organs of the body as well.
- Nitrogen Dioxide - a highly reactive gas emitted through the burning fuel from road vehicles, power plants, etc. - is another dangerous air pollutant that can lead to issues like wheezing, coughing, difficulty in breathing, and also serious respiratory ailments like asthma.
Why Is Urgent Action Required?
- Based on the findings of the latest report of United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human-induced climate change has been found to be a result of more than 100 years of net greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are a consequence of unsustainable use of resources, consumption patterns, contemporary lifestyle, etc.
- Urgent action is imperative to stop this environmental wreckage, as climate change is posing a threat to both the health and livelihoods of people all over the world. The COVID-19 pandemic is an epitome of this fact because it had the harshest impact on those with preexisting health conditions and those with limited or no access to healthcare services.
Good health is a basic human right which we can exercise by making sustainable lifestyle changes. But to help the less fortunate individuals who dont have this luxury, you can search online for Health NGO nearby me” and discover VASTRA - a trusted healthcare NGO that you can support through volunteer work or donations.
