Global relationship between climate-related hazards, poverty, and health

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between climate-related hazards, poverty, and health on a global scale. Due to climate change, climate-related hazards are occurring more frequently and with greater severity, leading to increased health-related issues that disproportionately affect people with low socioeconomic status (SES). The study examines multiple climate-related hazards, including heat waves, air pollution, riverine floods, and coastal floods. This is conducted through a global-scale literature review and data analysis. The literature review explores the relationship between climate-related hazards, poverty, and health. Additionally, data analysis involves map analysis and statistical data calculations. It examines the frequency and severity of climate-related hazards in regions with low SES. Moreover, areas experiencing multiple climate-related hazards, thereby increasing health risks, are identified. The literature review findings indicate that the increase in climate-related hazards exacerbates health issues, disproportionately affecting people with low SES in various ways. The data analysis concludes that all the studied climate-related hazards have a higher impact on low SES regions, though the extent of this relationship varies by hazard. Consequently, it is concluded that low SES individuals experience more climate-related health risks than those with higher SES. The results align with existing literature, which primarily consists of localized studies. However, this research provides a broader, global perspective supported by global data calculations. The study concludes that impoverished populations are disproportionately affected by climate-related hazards and, therefore, experience more negative health impacts, emphasizing the need for targeted mitigation strategies.