The triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—poses profound clinical challenges with growing urgency. Climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, exacerbating respiratory, cardiovascular, and heat-related illnesses, especially in vulnerable populations. Rising temperatures also contribute to the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue, extending their reach into previously unaffected regions.
Biodiversity loss undermines the resilience of ecosystems that support human health. The degradation of natural environments reduces access to medicinal resources, disrupts food systems, and increases the likelihood of zoonotic disease spillover—events where pathogens jump from animals to humans—contributing to future pandemics.
Pollution, including air, water, and soil contamination, leads to a host of health issues. Air pollution alone causes millions of premature deaths annually, particularly from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases. Chemical exposure and microplastics are increasingly linked to endocrine disruption, infertility, and developmental disorders.
Clinicians are already seeing the effects of these crises in practice, from heatstroke and asthma exacerbations to food insecurity and mental health distress. Addressing the triple planetary crisis is not only an environmental imperative but a clinical necessity. Healthcare systems must adapt, and professionals must advocate for systemic change to protect population health.
Graphic source: Climate change impacts on health - WHO
