Background: Global warming is a fundamental threat to human civilization. Urgent and comprehensive actions are needed to achieve the Paris Climate Convention goals. This work aims to provide a systematic overview of global warming and its linkages to public healthcare.
Methods: In a narrative review, we outline causes, consequences, and necessary measures regarding global warming and the implications for public healthcare.
Results and discussion: Closely linked to our resource behaviours and economic systems, greenhouse gas emissions play a central role in global warming. We are seeing an increase in temperature records and heat waves as well as droughts with crop losses, rising sea levels and, ultimately, effects on the human body and mind. Despite these threats, there is a gap between awareness and action. Measures are urgently needed at a political, innovative, economic and individual level. As a significant greenhouse gas emitter, the public health sector bears responsibility. Healthcare professionals are directly confronted with the impact of global warming through the treatment of people suffering from its effects; they can serve as role models in tackling it. Necessary changes in life (style) do not only involve a more conscious use of our resources, but also hold the chance of creating a new form of social solidarity.
Conclusions: Healthcare institutions and professionals play a significant role as emitters, practitioners, and role models in global warming.
Keywords: Carbon dioxide; Climate change; Global warming; Globale Erwärmung; Greenhouse gas emissions; Klimawandel; Kohlendioxid; Treibhausgase.
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