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

Climate Change

Video: Dr Jenny Mack presentation to the Environment, Health and Wellbeing Conference May 2023

13 Jun, 2023 - On 17 May, Dr Jenny Mack, a public health consultant with the Institute of Public Health, gave a presentation to the annual Environment, Health and Wellbeing Conference, hosted by the Environmental…

World in heart shaped hands

Video: Key Messages from the Healthy Planet, Healthy People conference

30 Jan, 2023 - Following on from the recent Joint Public Health Conference, we are delighted to share a short video featuring highlights and key messages from this online event.The one-day Healthy Planet, Healthy…

All-island conference will highlight need to put health at the heart of our climate response

All-island conference will highlight need to put health at the heart of our climate response

28 Nov, 2022 - This week a major all-island conference will highlight the impacts of climate change on population health in Ireland and Northern Ireland and the need to put health at the heart of our response. On…

Boy holding globe

Call for abstracts: North South Public Health Conference – Healthy Planet, Healthy People

15 Jul, 2022 - ‘Climate change is the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century, but it is also the greatest opportunity to redefine the social and environmental determinants of health’The…