By Dariel Burdass, Chief Executive, The Physiological Society
As COP26 takes place in Glasgow, The Physiological Society has launched a new booklet ‘Physiology and Climate Change’. This booklet showcases the work of physiologists across the world in a global effort to understand and find solutions for the effects of climate change. The booklet can be download on The Society’s COP26 Hub: physoc.org/climatechange
With COP26, the eyes of the world are on Glasgow as world leaders gather for what many believe to be the world’s best last chance to get runaway climate change under control.
As Chief Executive of The Physiological Society, I am proud of research undertaken by physiologists across the world in a global effort to understand and find solutions for the effects of climate change. Our new booklet, Physiology and Climate Change, captures just a snapshot of their research.
Climate change, environmental damage and dwindling natural resources are significant and escalating problems which affect us all. The threat that climate change poses to the health of humans, other animals and plants cannot be ignored.
As noted by the World Health Organization1 the overall health effects of a changing climate are overwhelmingly negative. Climate change affects many of the social and environmental determinants of health and hygiene. These evolving health risk include:
- Temperature-related mortality and morbidity
- Air quality deterioration which exacerbates cardiovascular and respiratory disease
- Impacts of extreme events such as higher rainfall and rising sea levels which impact for example water-borne diseases such as cholera
- Food safety and nutrition
- Mental health and well-being
Physiology is an essential part of the scientific response as it helps us understand the consequences of climate change on the human body. As the science of how the body works, physiology explains the impact of climate change on our health and productivity, and therefore the very future of our species.
For example, physiologists use their specific expertise to look at how humans respond and cope with extreme heat to develop proposals for physiological adaptation (or acclimatisation), behavioural, infrastructure, and technological adaptation which can also inform public health guidance.
The current climate crisis has already resulted in a mass-extinction of thousands of species and is likely to get worse. Physiologists are vital for conservation efforts of wild populations to make sure that they have an environment that supports their survival.
COP26 is a critical summit for global climate action and is being described as the most significant climate event since the 2015 Paris Agreement. As we look to COP26, all of us will be willing world leaders to unite and act decisively to get strong commitments and alignment to cut carbon emissions and avoid the worst effects of climate change.