Climate of Health:
the prescription for survival

Addressing climate change as a health crisis

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the climate crisis one of the biggest global threats to human health. It currently estimates that one in four deaths can be attributed to preventable environmental causes – all of which are being exacerbated by climate change.

By 2050, the forecast is for an additional 14.5 million deaths, the loss of >2 billion healthy life years, and $12.5 trillion in economic losses worldwide.

This creates a perfect storm for world health, where increased air pollution and rising temperatures are fused with higher morbidity and mortality rates across a huge number of therapy areas, from respiratory illness and cardiovascular disease to oncology, mental health, women’s health and diabetes.

Where air pollution causes more than 20% of stroke deaths, increases incidence and shortens survival rates in all types of cancer, and is estimated to be responsible for nearly one-fifth of the global burden of type 2 diabetes. Even the risk of suicide goes up by 0.7-2.1% for every 1°C rise. Connections can also be noted in increased complications during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as increased rates of ADHD and autism, early menopause, antibiotic resistance, and worsening of respiratory and immune disorders.

Every therapy area is now being impacted by climate change.

In mental health, eco-depression and eco-anger are associated with stress and anxiety. In infectious diseases, 58% of viral, bacterial and fungal diseases are exacerbated by climate change. And in CVD, rising air pollution is increasing disease development risk factors.

Our global healthcare systems are already under phenomenal strain – and pushed to their limits. So, we must address the impact of the climate crisis at every stage of the healthcare pathway, from clinical trial design and patient identification to effective treatment approaches.

This is where pharma has a unique and undeniably important role to play in reducing the effects of climate change – and making patients healthier.

But ironically, healthcare is also one of the world’s biggest contributors to the climate crisis – accounting for 4.4% of emissions worldwide. To put that into context, if healthcare were a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter on the planet. So, we have a responsibility to put this right too.

New exciting data released from Point.1, Havas Lynx’s proprietary data product, reveals that healthcare professionals (HCPs) are increasingly aware of the climate crisis and resulting impact on healthcare.

• 77% of HCPs now recognise the climate crisis poses a risk to the health of their patients and is therefore an urgent problem that needs addressing
• Roughly two-thirds (62%) currently believe the climate crisis is altering the landscape of the patients they treat
• 66% believe the climate crisis is likely to change their approach to care in the future.

Point.1 data confirms that two-thirds of HCPs are open to receiving more support from pharma to tackle environmental challenges. However, only one-third of HCPs (34%) believe the pharma industry is taking sufficient action to address climate change.

HCP expectations for pharma to act are growing – with 72% believing pharmaceutical companies should use their influence to effect change.

Doing this can only do pharma good. In fact, there’s a direct correlation between climate action and corporate equity. In 2023, WE Brands in Motion found that outside of product functionality, corporate reputation is the leading factor in prescribing habits – proving that actively, authentically engaging in the climate-health crisis will only translate into positive prescription behaviours.

Both HCPs and patients are increasingly seeing the need and expectation for pharma companies to engage in tackling the climate-health crisis in a meaningful and tangible manner.

HCPs are seeing the signs. So are patients. They’re seeing how the climate crisis is evolving into the biggest health crisis we have ever faced. They’re looking to pharma to play a critical role. To take responsible, tangible action. To make changes. To know that doing the right thing is also doing the smart thing. Because, if the world is healthier, we all win.

To read the full Climate of Health report, please visit ClimateofHealth.co.uk. For more information about collaboration opportunities, please contact us at Europe@havaslynx.com

References are available on request.