Akkon Aspekte Abend “Can you feel the heat?“

Aim and content
The relationship between climate change and human health has become an urgent issue worldwide, especially in elevated areas. In an era of escalating environmental disruption, rising temperatures, and frequent climate disasters, communities around the globe are facing new and intensified health challenges. From heat-related illnesses and respiratory diseases to malnutrition and mental stress, climate change is increasingly affecting both physical and mental well-being, exacerbating existing health inequalities and placing vulnerable populations at greater risk.

Between the years 2010 and 2020, the World Health Organization reported a steady increase in climate-related health impacts, estimating that over 250,000 additional deaths per year will occur between 2030 and 2050 due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress alone. Air pollution, extreme weather events, and disrupted food systems are already straining health infrastructures and challenging public health systems worldwide. In light of this, local and international communities continue to call for coordinated action to mitigate and adapt to these growing threats.

During the Akkon Aspekte Abend “Can you feel the heat?”, we aim to explore the intertwined relationship between a changing climate and global health with the partial focus on mountainous regions. Our international and interdisciplinary panel, featuring researchers, public health experts, and students from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, will discuss crucial topics such as urban heat, air quality, infectious disease spread, climate anxiety, and health equity. Only through global cooperation, sustainable policy, and community-based resilience can we confront this defining public health challenge of our time and promote a healthier, more sustainable future for all.