Climate change: New book highlights health risks for the vulnerable!

Climate change: New book highlights health risks for the vulnerable!

The challenges that climate change poses to our health are no longer a future scenario, but a reality. Researchers at the University of Witten/Herdecke have now provided a deep insight into this topic with a new anthology. The title of the book, which will be published by Springer Verlag in December 2025, is “Climate and Vulnerability” and can already be pre-ordered. The editors Daniela Schmitz, Jan-Hendrik Ortloff, Manfred Fiedler, Julia Rinas-Bahl and Lena Lorenz have made it their mission to shed light on vulnerable groups - such as older people or socially disadvantaged people - in the context of climate change. The anthology brings together basic and research contributions from various disciplines and is primarily aimed at health scientists and practitioners in the climate and health sector.

What is covered in the book? The authors shed light on the health risks caused by extreme weather events and heat waves. These phenomena not only pose direct risks, but also impact the security of supply of power grids and hospitals. At a time when the world increasingly sees health-related crises in the wake of complex climate changes, the anthology also addresses global aspects such as climate justice, with examples from Pakistan. A central concern is so-called “climate preparedness”, i.e. preparation for future climate events, which includes essential topics such as flood protection and heat action plans.

The impact of climate change on health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called climate change “the greatest health threat to humanity.” This fact makes it even more important to face the associated risks. Key health challenges include not only heat-related illnesses, but also increased exposure to certain pathogens and the indirect effects on psychological well-being. People who already have pre-existing health problems or who have a low socioeconomic status are particularly at risk.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has significantly expanded its activities in the area of ​​climate change and health and set up an interdepartmental working group. The aim of this is to bundle scientific work and set up projects that improve the understanding of excess heat mortality in Germany. The health effects of heat, which can put strain on the cardiovascular system, are a central issue, especially in view of demographic developments in Germany.

An interdisciplinary topic

The new work is seen as an important step towards closing the gaps within a previously fragmented field of research. The editors have set themselves the goal of combining theoretical principles with empirical findings and practical solutions. Particular attention is also being paid to the new Climate Adaptation Act and the national adaptation strategy in Germany, which provide for measures to reduce the health risks caused by climate change.

By exchanging knowledge and experiences from different disciplines, it becomes possible to develop effective options for action and to better protect the population with regard to the health consequences of climate change. “Climate and Vulnerability” could therefore not only advance the academic discussion, but also help to develop practical approaches to adapting to the challenges of climate change.