What effect does climate change have on global health?

Study for the Global Health Exam. Excel with flashcards and multiple choice questions, with detailed hints and explanations after each question. Prepare comprehensively for your global health assessment!

Climate change significantly impacts global health by contributing to the emergence and spread of diseases. As temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, the geographic range of many pathogens and vectors, such as mosquitoes, can expand. This can lead to outbreaks of diseases that were previously confined to specific areas, as warmer temperatures can facilitate the breeding and survival of these disease-carrying organisms. For instance, conditions that promote the spread of malaria or dengue fever are likely to become more prevalent in areas that may have been too cold or too unstable for these diseases to thrive before climate change increased temperatures.

Moreover, climate change influences health through extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and floods, which can exacerbate public health challenges by disrupting water supply and sanitation, leading to outbreaks of waterborne diseases. It also creates stress on food systems and livelihoods, which can contribute to malnutrition and other health issues.

The other options, while they might have positive implications in theory, do not accurately reflect the broader and more serious implications of climate change on health. For example, climate change is unlikely to improve agricultural productivity in the long term due to extreme weather conditions and soil degradation. Similarly, climate change is more associated with destabilizing ecosystems rather than creating stability, as shifting climates and habitats can lead to

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