Vision 2030: Climate adaptation for improved cardiovascular-renal-metabolic health outcomes
Climate change will have huge effects on disease burdens and the capacity of our health systems to deal with them. This is particularly the case for cardiovascular, renal and metabolic conditions. This related group of diseases includes some of the world’s biggest killers: five of the top 12 causes of death globally belong to this category of illnesses, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) alone account for just under a third (32%) of global deaths each year.
Without proper action now, we are likely to see further new cases and more mortality associated with these diseases. At the same time, the delivery of care by healthcare systems will be impacted as infrastructure becomes weakened by climate-related weather effects (see Figure 1). Without taking appropriate action to stay cool, heatwaves will drive higher rates of kidney disease and CVD. Similarly, disruptive weather events, such as storms and floods, will have long-term effects on people living with cardiovascular-renal-metabolic diseases. For instance, the impact of hurricanes on all-mortality deaths rates for those living with diabetes can last for more than a decade.
Figure 1: Climate change impacts on cardiovascular-renal-metabolic health
Meanwhile, healthcare practices for cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases are contributing to the problem through their own substantial carbon footprint.
The wider interaction of climate change and health is getting increasing attention by international bodies, such as the World Health Organisation, and national governments. These efforts will be crucial to prepare for the challenges ahead. However, climate change and health will also need granular solutions to adaptation needs arising from specific illnesses.
That is why this report has taken a disease-specific focus, namely adaptation for the better care and management of people living with cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases.
Using a backcasting approach, we present a roadmap to a better possible future: “By 2030, we envision a world where the effects of climate change on cardiovascular-renal-metabolic health have been minimised, fostering equitable and inclusive care.”
To reach this ambitious but reachable goal, we present a detailed framework. Each component is important on its own, but together they create a mutually supportive structure for progress (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Overview of the cardiovascular-renal-metabolic disease climate change adaptation framework
A guide for health systems on improving care for cardiovascular-renal-metabolic diseases amid climate adaptation.
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Climate adaptation for improvements in women’s health
Vision 2030: A guide for health systems on improving women's health amid climate adaptation.
Chronic Kidney Disease in Outdoor Workers in Latin America
Climate change is leading to a rise in global temperatures and an impact on outdoor workers’ kidney health. Dr Magdalena Madero, Chief of Nephrology at Instituto Nacional de Cardiol in Mexico, looks at how employers and healthcare professionals can help prevent the negative effects of extreme heat exposure.
Climate Change Affects Cardiovascular Health in Africa
Climate change is impacting cardiovascular health, particularly for individuals living in Africa, which poses a growing challenge to healthcare systems in the region, requiring effective adaptation strategies, says Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, the chief executive officer of the South African Medical Research Council
Climate change and women’s health: providers play a vital role
Healthcare providers have an important role to play in climate change preparedness for women’s health, but they also need to develop soft skills and support the development of allied community workers, says Alison Malmqvist, a Vice President and Climate Health lead at Population Services International.
Health and Planetary Health Literacy for better wellbeing
There is an urgent need to improve health and planetary health literacy as it gives people, including girls and women, the skills to become agents of change for their communities and stimulate practices that improve their health and that of the environment, says Kristine Sørensen, founder of the Global Health Literacy Academy
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