Human Health

Climate change is the most significant health threat facing humanity today, actively jeopardizing half a century in global health progress, economic development, and poverty reduction¹. Already, 85 percent of the world's population has been exposed to some form of adverse health consequence from climate change². Keeping the average global temperature rise to below 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) compared to preindustrial levels by 2050 would prevent millions of climate change-related deaths¹. Thanks to climate change, a child born in 2020 will experience 2 to 36 times as many extreme weather events as someone born in 1960³. These health risks are not uniform across the planet. Depending on the region, people face a multitude of existing and emergent health stressors and diseases connected to climate change.

In Texas, warmer average temperatures are projected to elevate summer heat stress, and days over 100 °F will likely double in the next two decades and triple or quadruple by the end of the century, leading to a rise in heat-related mortality^4,5. Hotter temperatures will probably increase the formation of near-surface ozone and smog, and more severe drought increases airborne dust particulates, both of which negatively impact cardiovascular and respiratory health^6,7.

Higher temperatures correlate with higher evaporation rates at the surface and lower recharge rates to aquifers, which threaten water supplies and lowers both the sources and overall quality of water for both humans and animals⁸. Less access to water heightens the risk of supply contamination and the spread of waterborne diseases^7,9. Crop yields and quality are expected to decline worldwide and in Texas, threatening food security^10,11. Rising average temperatures have allowed the spread of malaria and dengue fever into southeastern Texas. Fewer frost days expanded the infection range for these mosquito-borne illnesses and are projected to continue growing^7,12,13.

Texans' exposure to dangerous extreme weather events like floods and wildfires is projected to continue rising through the end of the century^5,14. The Texas electrical grid and other critical infrastructure are under pressure from these events^15,16,17. Studies looking at both moderate and severe scenarios for future greenhouse gas emissions suggest that the United States may experience a massive population migration in the coming decades^18,19. Climate refugees will move away from areas most vulnerable to adverse climate change effects, including many cities in Texas, to places with cooler temperatures, more access to resources, and less life-threatening extreme weather events^18,20. These health risks are significantly magnified for socioeconomically vulnerable and marginalized communities, who bear the brunt of these climate consequences while lacking the economic and social support to avoid and recover from them^14,21,22. 

Altogether, the projected increases in extreme weather event severity and frequency, combined with greater exposure and vulnerability to the effects of climate change, pose a significant and credible threat to the health of all Texans. These factors are expected to lead to significant economic burdens for the state and large-scale climate migrations, supporting the need for comprehensive adaptation and response plans at both local and federal scales. Explore the graphics and resources below to learn more about how health and climate change intersect in Texas. 

Climate effects on health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Climate change and health (World Health Organization)

Climate change and human health (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)

Risky Business focuses on producing assessments on climate change-related risks to the US economy, both by state and nationally. Texas' report is ideal for understanding how climate impacts affect the state's economy and presents strategies for business stakeholders and policy planners. 

National Center for Environmental Health: A collection of datasets related to preventing illness, disability, and death from interactions between humans and the environment (including climate change) in the United States. 

New Climate Maps Show a Transofrmed United States (Pro Publica)