Climate, migration and health: a global perspective

Background Climate change has a well-documented impact on human health, but interconnections among climate, migration and health have received less attention. Climate-related events such as flooding, wildfires, drought and extreme heat have led to internal displacement and international migration. Objective The objective of the study is to examine the interconnections among climate, migration and health using case studies from around the world. Design The study considered various climate-related events, including flooding in Pakistan, wildfires in Australia, drought in Somalia, Guatemala and Nepal, and extreme heat in Spain. The issues were approached using the perspectives of epidemiology, ethics and policy, framed within the context of the 2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on SDGs 3, 10 and 13. Results The study suggested pragmatic, ethical measures that can inform preparedness efforts at multiple scales. Conclusion Complex issues of climate, migration and health require careful examination and timely action to help prevent and address the implications for migrating families, host communities and healthcare systems around the world.