Climate Change

Climate Change

Climate change is impacting our health and contributing to death, disease and inequalities across the world.

Why is climate change a public health issue?

The climate emergency is a health emergency. Climate change and air pollution threaten health and create inequality. The World Health Organization estimates that over 13 million deaths are attributed to modifiable environmental risks each year.

The 2022 Joint Public Health Conference, Healthy Planet, Healthy People, highlighted the impacts of climate change on population health in Ireland and Northern Ireland and the need to put health at the heart of our climate response. Climate change impacts health directly through the impact of extreme weather events. Extreme heat, flooding and storms are becoming increasingly frequent. It also impacts health indirectly through food and water insecurity, increasing transmission of infectious diseases, disruption of the health care systems, displacement of communities and negative impacts on mental health.

Read the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and find key facts from the World Health Organization on the impact of climate change on health. The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change is also dedicated to research and evidence on the impacts of climate change on health.

Key Facts: Climate Change

How climate change is impacting health

Almost 25% of all estimated global deaths are linked to environmental factors - WHO

Climate change is expected to cause circa 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 - WHO

Ireland: Policy, Strategy, Legislation

In Ireland, the following policies, strategies, and legislation are in place to mitigate against the impacts of climate change.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021

Department of Health - Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan 2019-2024

Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework - air and water quality indicators

Climate Action Plan (2023)

Northern Ireland: Policy, Strategy, Legislation

In Northern Ireland, the following policies, strategies, and legislation are in place to mitigate against the impacts of climate change.

Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme

Making Life Better Framework - Air and water quality indicators

Green Growth Strategy

Recent work on climate change

There is growing evidence around the impacts of climate change on our health at a global and national level. Our policy team use new and emerging evidence and data to develop policy briefs and submissions that will inform public policy in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Recent examples of our work include co-hosting the all-island Healthy Planet, Healthy People conference in 2022 while members of our team also contribute to the UK Faculty of Public Health Climate Change Committee.

Latest Climate Change Resources

Climate Change

Child holding world

IPH response to the Department of Health (ROI) Public Consultation on climate change adaptation for the health sector

Consultation Responses

19 Nov, 2019 - The Department of Health (DoH) in the Republic of Ireland has identified six climate scenarios with profound health implications.…

Person and car in snowy weather

The association of cold weather and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the island of Ireland between 1984 and 2007

Journal Articles

6 Dec, 2014 - This study aimed to assess the relationship between cold temperature and daily mortality in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern…

Climate Change Housing

Flats behind green space

IPH response to Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department for Regional Development Spatial Strategies

Consultation Responses

11 Apr, 2011 - The remit of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) is to promote cooperation for public health between Northern Ireland and…

Health Promotion Climate Change

Wind turbines

Response to Draft Guidance on Health in Strategic Environmental Assessment

Consultation Responses

1 Jun, 2007 - The Institute of Public Health in Ireland welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Draft Guidance on Health in Strategic…

Climate Change Social Determinants of Health