Minority Health and Health Disparities

The COVID microbe reminds us that biology can’t be spun or compromised; climate change teaches us the same lesson about physics and chemistry”. –Bill McKibben

The current outcry from the heavy troll on Global health and wellbeing state from the disruption of ecosystem, is very evident in every facet of daily life. For instance; In Europe, every one child out of ten, died prematurely due to pollution, almost [10%] of all cancers caused from environmental and occupational risks,and the climate change related rise in temperature associated with a rise in rates of infection, allergic, water and food borne diseases.[ 1] India being a tropical country, experiencing climate change induced heat-waves in the summer seem unavoidable especially in the northern and central states. Which not only suffers them from the syndromes of hyperthermia, and drinking water shortages, but also from the impacts of inflation due to hindering agricultural productivity, logistic operations, and factory outputs. [ 2]

Ironically, the ecological imbalance is the ultimatum of anthropogenic acts driven by growth and greed. As archaic saying “you get to reap what you sow” . However, these consequences are experiencing disproportional within the categories of races, ethnic groups, social classes, and even between the countries. Some are fighting with the impending threats on the basic necessities of life, yet some are still risking for an extra milestones of growth and development, not realising the fact that we are only one step away from the ecological armageddon.

Ironically, the ecological imbalance is the ultimatum of anthropogenic acts driven by growth and greed.

Bad to the worst case of scenarios, who is going to affect the most by climate change induced health hazards?

It seems that environmental variables have disproportionate impact on the health and wellbeing of the society’s most vulnerable groups. Notably, the socio-economically disadvantaged groups are facing a higher exposure to air and noise pollution, and also extreme temperatures due to economic limitations. These impacts further exacerbate the health inequalities. [1]

From the social structure to individual level, health inequities from the impact of climate change is noticeable. For example; the climate change worsen the racialised and gendered health harms, as evidenced through increasing rate of prenatal hospitalisation and premature birth in racially minoritized women. [3]

From the social structure to individual level, health inequities from the impact of climate change is noticeable. The environmental variables have disproportionate impact on the health and wellbeing of the society’s most vulnerable groups.

Another ethical and moral debate, why African countries are paying an enormous price for something that has done little to cause the climate crisis? They are challenging with a devastating health effects generated by the disruption of environmental and social determinants of health. For instance; Across the sub-Saharan Africa, a massive rise in malaria, dengue fever, Lassa fever, Rift Valley fever, Lyme disease, Ebola virus, West Nile virus and other infections due to the post ecological effect of flood and compromised environmental hygiene. Food insecurities and malnutrition also increased with damage from the extreme weather, and decreased drinking water quality causing water borne diseases such as diarrhoeal diseases, a prominent cause of mortality in Africa. [4]

Does it morally justify that Africa has contributed only [3%-5%] of Global cumulative carbon dioxide emissions yet paying the price for whole deluge ?

The most ridiculous thing is environmental degradation happens from the unsustainable extraction and consumption of resources for the economic growth, which principal goal is to reduce poverty. Yet the socio-economically deprived are the one facing the harshest consequences of climate crisis amplifying the existing inequalities, forget about the promised fruit. Does it mean those who are projecting an image of tackling climate change or racial equity a tokenistic or performative? Or the climate change summits and conferences are just an initiative, diplomatic means of representing the outcry by the climate activists,and humanitarians without seeing much on the pen and papers of the legal constitution and system? Why any drastic efficient measures are not taken to resolve this compromised health and ecological imbalance? In fact, healthcare systems produce nearly [4-5%] of global carbon emissions and hospitals emit [2.5] times higher greenhouse gases than commercial buildings. [1] Paradoxically, the systems made to address the problems are contributing to the problems, they seek to resolve.

Paradoxically, the systems made to address the problems are contributing to the problems, they seek to resolve.

The rich are complacent to these climate health risks, whereas, health and wellbeing are sucking out of the poor. In between this deep and wide chasm, lies the real hand and mind of the society, whose hands are tied and full with the capitalist rat race of promotion, incentives, and insurances versus rents, loans, and expenditures. Their heads on fire and mentally melting down, so are less bothered by melting ice-caps or raising sea water. Is the capitalist immune to ecological apocalypse because of high technological creation of Noah’s Ark, to save them? Or merely pushing forward for a miracle ?

According to the sociologist Jens Beckert and Richard Bronk,
“under radical uncertainty, we have little choice but to lean on narratives about the future and those narratives do real work. They structure what we expect, and in structuring our expectations, they help bring the future about”

So what kind of future are we expecting? Are we really going to pass this hot potato to our future generation?

What’s my approach to this issue? Considering the environmental factors along with health and wellbeing of the whole ecosystem, devising a planetary health approach would not only improve and promote the health and wellbeing of all the beings and the planet, but also build resilience and better prepared systems and societies for health and environmental threats such as future pandemics and natural disasters. [1]

Individually, I don’t have that power and resources of an organization, nor that of constitutional system but I have a strong believe that I can make a contribution to this climate health issues by researching, questioning, and raising attention to the cause as a public health researcher.

What can you contribute to the climate cause as an individual ?

References

1. Danielle B. Planetary health:A holistic vision for people and the planet. Sep 19, 2023. Discussion paper. Social Europe and Wellbeing Programme. European Policy Centre, EPC.
2. Pradeep S. In 2026, climate change to become India’s defining economic variable. 02 Jan 2026. Insights.
3. Deivanayagam TA, English S et al. Envisioning environmental equity: climate change, health, and racial justice. Lancet. 2023 Jul 1;402(10395):64-78. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00919-4. Epub 2023 May 29. PMID: 37263280; PMCID: PMC10415673.
4. Atwoli L, Erhabor GE et al. COP27 Climate Change Conference: Urgent action needed for Africa and the world. Indian J Med Ethics. 2023 Jan-Mar;VIII(1):7-9. doi: 10.20529/IJME.2022.083. Epub 2022 Nov 9. PMID: 36352544.