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We all know that the climate crisis is getting worse, and we're seeing its effects everywhere. We're getting used to temperature records being broken, hearing that sea levels are rising around the world and seeing the devastating impacts of extreme weather events. This summer, we even saw records for the world's hottest day being broken… twice. These issues hit the global south the hardest, but the UK has also experienced significant changes in climate over recent decades – I still remember trying to sleep in 40-degree heat back in 2022, the UK’s hottest year on record. Floods and other extreme weather events are also becoming more frequent and severe and it’s predicted that these will only continue.
The UK Health Security Agency warns that climate change poses a major threat to health and wellbeing in the UK, particularly for those with pre-existing conditions, older people and underprivileged communities.
But it’s not just the planet's health that’s suffering; human health is taking a hit too. The NHS rightly calls the climate emergency a health emergency, and the Lancet has stated that the climate crisis is the largest global health threat of the 21st century. The health impacts are severe and being seen worldwide – from increased heat stress, to injury from extreme weather events like floods and fires, to food scarcity. In the UK we’re seeing heat-related deaths rise, with an estimated 2,000 heat-related deaths in 2023 alone, and conditions such as asthma and allergies becoming more prevalent due to poor air quality. The UK Health Security Agency warns that climate change poses a major threat to health and wellbeing in the UK, particularly for those with 'pre-existing conditions, older people and underprivileged communities'.
But perhaps one of the impacts that is most often overlooked is the psychological toll that the climate crisis can have. There’s growing evidence that the climate crisis significantly impacts mental, as well as physical, health. Anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges are exacerbated due to the climate emergency. The reasons for this are many – from the stress or trauma of experiencing or anticipating extreme weather events, to feeling the impacts of the crisis on the UK’s economy and food sources, to the existential dread of an uncertain future – something I continue to think about as I learn even more about how significant the climate crisis will be for us. Young people are particularly vulnerable, inheriting a world where the climate crisis shapes their very conception of tomorrow. Results from a survey of 10,000 young people across 10 countries published in 2021 show that 84% were at least moderately worried about climate change, and 59% were very or extremely worried. These are significant figures, and the potential consequences of such widespread concern should not be ignored.
Focus on this issue is growing and more work is being done to understand the complex impacts of the crisis on mental health. For example, researchers at the Climate Cares Centre at Imperial College London have recently launched their ‘Global Research and Action Agenda for Climate Change and Mental Health’ as part of their Wellcome-funded project ‘Connecting Climate Minds’. They outline key research priorities and concrete steps to address the mental health impacts of the climate crisis. But more generally, attention to this issue still seems to be limited. Maybe this reflects the broader under-prioritisation of mental health, or perhaps it is because it is difficult to directly measure these impacts. But it's crucial to understand how the crisis has an impact on mental health so that policymakers can adapt and ensure that mental health services are equipped to meet the evolving needs of our communities.
One silver lining is that actions benefiting the climate often have dual effects on our physical and mental well-being. Promoting green spaces, encouraging active transport and fostering community resilience not only mitigate climate change but also enhance our mental and physical health.
The climate crisis is not just an environmental challenge; it is a critical public health challenge that demands a holistic response – one that recognises the interconnectedness of mental health, environmental sustainability, economic security and societal resilience.
As we navigate this crisis, I think it’s important to remember that caring for our planet and caring for our minds are not mutually exclusive. They are deeply interconnected. The climate crisis is not just an environmental challenge; it is a critical public health challenge that demands a holistic response – one that recognises the interconnectedness of mental health, environmental sustainability, economic security and societal resilience. Health care strategists and policymakers must recognise this reality. To facilitate this, The King’s Fund recently hosted a roundtable event in collaboration with the Climate Cares Centre, bringing together government policymakers and experts in both climate and mental health to explore potential integrated policy responses. The conversation sparked interest in the intersection between climate and health and highlighted the importance of bringing people together to consider these issues holistically. We must integrate mental health considerations into our climate response, ensuring a future where both our planet and our minds can thrive.
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