Climate change and conflict combine to deepen global health crises

Experts have raised alarms over the intertwined effects of climate change and conflict, which together can amplify health crises on a global scale. In The BMJ's recent climate issue, they highlight how these factors don’t just add up but interact in ways that produce more severe and complicated outcomes. Between 1995 and 2015, conflict alone was responsible for over 10 million child deaths. Women of reproductive age living in areas with intense conflict faced mortality rates three times higher than those in peaceful regions. These devastating statistics underscore the harsh toll conflict takes on vulnerable populations. Heat-related deaths have also been rising sharply, with the record-breaking summers of 2022 and 2024 hitting Europe particularly hard. More than 60,000 deaths from heat were recorded across 32 countries during these periods, with women disproportionately affected. Beyond these direct fatalities, climate change and conflict jointly threaten health in indirect ways as well. Damage to healthcare infrastructure, disruption of supply chains, and reduced access to food and essential services escalate risks like undernutrition and the spread of infectious diseases, further endangering lives. Taking action on climate change remains crucial to reducing these health risks. Both mitigation—efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions—and adaptation strategies are key components. Yet, conflicts often derail these initiatives by redirecting resources and attention away from climate priorities. For instance, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, financial investments aimed at climate mitigation were drastically cut as urgent funds shifted toward war efforts and rebuilding. Adding to the complexity, military operations themselves are significant, though often overlooked, contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. The military sector is estimated to be responsible for about 5.5% of worldwide emissions, with the United States as the largest single contributor. To address this multifaceted challenge, experts urge decision-makers at every level—from local governments to international bodies—to acknowledge the complex links between climate, health, and conflict. They stress that scaling up climate action, especially in fragile and conflict-affected regions, is essential to sustainable development and peace. Science has a critical part to play in guiding strategies, with tools like the Climate Conflict Vulnerability Index helping identify hotspots where climate stress and conflict vulnerabilities overlap and compound each other’s effects. Ultimately, breaking the vicious cycle of worsening climate impacts, declining health, and surging instability demands an integrated approach. Climate action must be combined with conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. Strengthening health systems to withstand and respond to these intersecting threats is vital. Such coordinated strategies offer the best chance to protect vulnerable populations and promote stability in an increasingly uncertain world.