What is climate change?

Climate change is the global and long-term change in temperatures and weather patterns. In the past natural climate shifts occurred, such as the Ice Ages, through variations in the solar cycle and our planet’s closeness to the sun.

But since the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1800s, human activity has been the main cause of climate change. Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas releases greenhouse gases into the air. These greenhouse gas emissions act like a blanket wrapped around Earth, trapping the sun's heat and raising temperatures¹.

Examples of greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using petrol and diesel to drive your car or from coal power plants, which produce electricity to provide hot water on tap and heat buildings, including hospitals and clinics.

Our energy, transport, work and homes, agricultural food production and landfill sites, all emit greenhouse gases.

What are the consequences of climate change?

Many people think climate change mainly means warmer temperatures. But temperature rise is only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, changes in one area can influence changes in all others. Our health and that of future generations is inextricably linked with the health of the planet.

The consequences of climate change now include but are not limited to, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms, declining biodiversity and food availability, climate refugee crises and increased risk from infectious diseases.

All these effects of climate change affect human health, directly and indirectly. Climate change can also impact our ability to deliver healthcare as extreme weather adversely impacts infrastructure and the most vulnerable are cut off from vital healthcare services and resources.

Climate change – the need to act now

Greenhouse gas concentrations are at their highest levels in two million years and emissions continue to rise. The Earth is now about 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s. The last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record and the summer of 2022 was the hottest ever.

In a series of UN reports, thousands of scientists and government reviewers agreed that limiting global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C would help us avoid the worst climate impacts and maintain a climate in which we can continue to live. Yet based on current national climate plans, global warming is projected to reach around 3.2°C by the end of the century².

The emissions that cause climate change come from every part of the world and affect everyone, but some countries produce much more than others. The 100 least-emitting countries generate three per cent of total emissions. The 10 countries with the largest emissions contribute 68 per cent. Everyone must take climate action, but people and countries creating more of the problem have a greater responsibility to act first³. The USA, European Union and other similar high consumption societies have a more significant role to play than others⁴.

Current healthcare practices, including the delivery of care, transport, procurement and use and disposal of technology, contribute both directly and indirectly to greenhouse gas emissions. The healthcare system’s carbon footprint is equivalent to 4.4% of global net emissions and, according to Health Care Without Harm⁵ – if it were a country, it would be the fifth-largest emitter on the planet. Without action now, these climate impacts will be heightened by a combination of ageing populations, unhealthy lifestyles and the disease-burden associated with climate change – all of which are likely to increase future healthcare demand and resource consumption.

Read more about Bupa’s environment and climate action plans.