Vol. 1 No. 3 (2018)

This special issue of the International Journal of Health Research examines the growing impact of climate change on human health and the strategies needed to protect populations in a warming world. As extreme heat, severe weather, shifting disease patterns, and threats to food and water security intensify, understanding how climate change affects health has become a central concern for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers.

The contributions in this issue explore the health consequences of climate change across a range of settings. Articles examine heat-related illness and extreme weather events, changing patterns of vector-borne and respiratory disease, the effects of climate change on food security and nutrition, and the mental health burden of climate-related disasters and displacement. Several articles focus on health system resilience and adaptation in low- and middle-income countries, where climate vulnerability is often greatest and resources for response are most limited. Others address the health co-benefits of climate mitigation policies and the unequal distribution of climate risks among marginalized communities.

Together, these contributions strengthen the evidence base linking climate change to health outcomes and point toward practical, equitable responses. The issue is intended for researchers, clinicians, public health practitioners, and policymakers working to build healthier and more climate-resilient communities.