Warmer winters, the rapid spread of ticks, heatwaves that pose a threat to the elderly and patients with chronic diseases, heavy rains that cause not only physical injuries but also psychological consequences – these are no longer just future predictions, but increasingly visible phenomena. Climate change is among the main drivers.
These threats have yet to be systematically analysed, and health considerations are often overlooked in climate policy agendas. To address this gap, researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania, have undertaken a comprehensive study of the governance of climate change-induced risks to public health.
Climate change induces illnesses and life-threatening conditions
Rima Proscevičiūtė, a doctoral student in sociology at KTU, explains that the study was motivated by the observation that the health impacts of climate change receive far less attention than those affecting agriculture or finance. “There is a risk that we will not be adequately prepared for the health threats posed by climate change,” says Proscevičiūtė.
However, the effects of extreme weather and natural disasters are already being felt. “For example, in Lithuania, the spread of tick-borne diseases is receiving a lot of attention in society, as warmer climates provide more suitable habitats for ticks. Hundreds of Lyme disease cases are reported in Lithuania each year – around 3,000 in 2022, with a 19 per cent increase in 2023,” she notes.
Another clear example is the impact of heat waves on mortality. On August 3, 2019, Lithuania recorded a historic high of 34.4 °C. “Mortality rose by about 15 per cent that day. Yet, despite the increasing frequency of such events, we still lack an integrated heat wave warning system, even though other countries’ experiences show it to be highly effective,” says Proscevičiūtė.
While extensive health and environmental data – on air pollution, infectious diseases, mortality, and hospitalisations – are collected, they are rarely analysed in the context of climate-health links.
“This limits our ability to identify risk groups promptly and take preventive measures,” notes Proscevičiūtė. Monitoring for the most vulnerable – the elderly, children, and patients with chronic illnesses – is particularly lacking, as is data on mental health impacts from stress or trauma caused by extreme weather. Moreover, it is not always clear whether adaptation measures reach all groups equally, raising concerns that the climate crisis could further deepen social inequalities.
