Today, 5 June, marks World Environment Day, a global reminder that protecting our environment is fundamental to the health, wellbeing and prosperity of current and future generations.
Environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, land degradation, water scarcity and food insecurity, are no longer distant concerns. They are among the defining health, development and societal challenges of our time. In South Africa, communities are already experiencing these impacts through floods, droughts, heatwaves, ecosystem degradation and growing pressure on livelihoods and health systems.
We are generating evidence on the health impacts of climate change, strengthening understanding of environmental and climate-related vulnerabilities, and helping to develop interventions and policies that can improve resilience for the communities we serve”, says Climate and Health Lead Scientist, Prof Collins Iwuji.
On this World Environment Day, we invite you to watch the Bhekisisa feature on WEMA, one of AHRI’s climate and health studies, and learn more about the hidden mental health impacts of climate change, as well as the resilience and recovery of affected communities.
