Better Health

Climate Change and Its Impact on Human Health

Two people standing next to a thermometer.

Climate Change and Human Health

This page explains how rising temperatures, extreme weather and air pollution increase risks to cardiovascular, respiratory, mental health and cancer outcomes — and what targets and actions can reduce those harms.

  • Climate drivers such as heatwaves, wildfires, and elevated CO2 affect multiple health pathways.
  • Older adults, low‑income communities and people in low‑resource health systems face higher risk.
  • Policy and corporate action — including science‑based targets and protected‑area commitments — support reduced emissions and greater resilience.

How climate change affects health — overview

Global warming drives more frequent and intense heatwaves, droughts, floods and wildfires, which together worsen air quality, food security and healthcare continuity — all of which harm human health. 
In the past decades these shifts have been linked to rising heat‑related deaths and increases in cardiovascular, respiratory and other disease burdens, with disproportionate impacts on older adults and disadvantaged populations.

Who is most vulnerable?

- Older adults and people with chronic heart or lung disease.
- Children, pregnant people, and those with limited access to care.
- Low‑income communities and populations in low‑ and middle‑income countries facing weaker health‑system resilience.

Air pollution, wildfires and cardiovascular/respiratory risk

Degraded air quality — including wildfire smoke and higher concentrations of particulate matter — is associated with increased hospitalizations and heart and lung damage.
Heat amplifies these risks by increasing physiological strain and worsening existing conditions.

Heat and cardiovascular effects

High temperatures raise cardiovascular stress, increase dehydration and clotting risk, and are linked to higher heat‑related mortality, especially among people over 65.

Mental health after climate disasters

Exposure to extreme events and the stress of displacement or disrupted services can increase anxiety, depression and other mental‑health burdens in affected communities.

Climate change and cancer risk

Climate drivers raise cancer risks through multiple pathways — increased UV exposure raising skin cancer risk, air pollution contributing to lung cancer, and food‑system disruptions that indirectly affect disease burden.

Modeling of climate‑related food‑system impacts has projected large additional mortality burdens if disruptions continue, underscoring the need for resilient health services.

Allergies and changing pollen seasons

Longer growing seasons and higher pollen production have increased the frequency and severity of allergic reactions in some regions.

Targets and practical actions

Limiting warming to 1.5°C, setting and following science‑based emissions targets, protecting ecosystems and strengthening health‑system preparedness are key steps to reduce health harms from climate change.

Bayer’s role and partnerships

Bayer has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and partnered with initiatives that endorse science‑based climate targets, while supporting programs to improve access to cancer care and resilience in vulnerable communities. :ss
Add FAQ set to add near the bottom with 4–6 direct Q/A pairs (one-sentence answers)

  1. How does heat increase the risk of heart disease? — Short answer: heat stress raises cardiovascular strain, dehydration and clotting risk; high temperatures + air pollution worsen outcomes, especially for older adults and those with preexisting heart conditions.
  2. Can climate change increase cancer risk? — Short answer: Yes — more UV exposure raises skin cancer risk and air pollution links to lung cancer; food-system disruption can indirectly raise cancer burden via malnutrition and delayed treatment.
  3. Who is most vulnerable to climate-related health impacts? — Short answer: older adults, children, pregnant people, ethnic minorities, low-income communities, people in LMICs and those with chronic illness.
  4. What can health systems do to prepare? — Short answer: strengthen emergency response, maintain supply chains, expand heat/air-quality warnings, and ensure continuity of cancer and chronic-care services. 
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