Disease, heatstroke, and air pollution are just some of the health risks that could result from climate change and could be much worse than the effect of COVID-19, according to panelists at the UN climate talks in Glasgow. 

The same panelists pointed to rich countries as being largely responsible for climate change, with their healthcare sectors constituting 5% of global carbon emissions. 

We need to recognize the role of health systems as emitters,” said Rachel Levine, the US Assistant Secretary of Health. “We cannot stand back and only tell others what they should do to protect our patients.”

The healthcare system contributes to the emissions through the manufacture and transport of medical supplies, as well as the construction of hospitals and health facilities. 

The Fijian UN Ambassador addressed the challenges of keeping health facilities open and functioning in the midst of superstorms and floods battering the Pacific island nation.

“It’s quite tragic when your doctors and nurses are themselves being evacuated when they should be providing front-line services,” Satyendra Prasad said.

Countries victim to harsh climate, according to the Ambassador, would need to train health workers how to adapt to climate-linked health matters, in addition to building health facilities capable of withstanding such climate. 

The solution? Drop fossil fuels

Although health facilities may be contributing to climate change, the main contributors to the coming health issues resulting from global warming are corporates - namely fossil fuel corporations. 

In a recent report by The Economist, the only way to keep growing is by leaving fossil fuels behind. The report explains that growing economies will have to adapt to the mounting costs of global warming, which will eventually stall their development as major costs will have to be paid to compensate for the damage caused by "floods, storms, heatwaves, and droughts." In the long run, therefore, the only way to survive is to let go of fossil fuels, the report concludes.