Vulnerable hearts, vulnerable climate
Vulnerability. Susceptibility. Defenselessness. There is a profound connection between human fragility—both physical and emotional—and the increasing instability of our planet’s climate. This intersection is not just metaphorical. It reflects a well-documented reality where changes in the environment directly compromise the health of the human heart and the well-being of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Climate change acts as a grave threat to cardiovascular health. Extreme environmental factors are now increasingly linked to heart-related emergencies. High temperatures force the heart to work harder to cool the body, which can lead to heart failure or stroke, especially in the elderly. Emissions from fossil fuels are direct drivers of heart disease and stroke. Air pollution has been linked to about four million deaths from present conditions.
People with preexisting chronic conditions have a lower capacity to adapt to rapid climate shifts. Thus, vulnerable hearts refer to the marginalized groups and countries that bear the burden of climate impacts despite contributing the least to the climate crisis. Extreme weather events (typhoons, floods) cause direct damage to countless lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure. Climate change alters the natural support systems of an economy. Long-term shifts, including rising sea levels and sustained high temperatures, cause debilitating environmental risks.
Across populations, children are among the most susceptible to climate whiplash and climate shocks, which threaten their basic rights to health, nutrition, and a safe environment. Protecting the future means protecting our children from the onslaught of extreme climate impacts. Beyond physical health, climate instability causes profound psychological stress, imbalance, and inequity within communities facing massive displacement or loss of livelihood.
Climate change results in the loss of biodiversity and the collapse of ecosystem services (like water purification, pollination, and natural flood protection). Through systemic degradation and the resulting resource scarcity, climate change threatens food security. In the context of climate change, overpopulation and overconsumption are the primary drivers of environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions.
How do we reduce climate vulnerability? Mitigation involves limiting the extent of climate change by addressing the root cause, and adaptation involves managing the impacts already occurring. Adaptation reduces vulnerability by helping communities bounce back from climate whiplash that produces floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Early warning systems for typhoons can significantly reduce damage to lives and property. Planting mangroves and seagrass can protect coastal communities from hazards like tsunamis and storm surges. Using climate-resistant crops (drought-or-deluge-resistant plants) can help stabilize food sources. Upgrading infrastructure (like buildings, bridges, and seawalls) with stronger and heat resistant materials helps communities adapt to the onslaught of climate shocks. Mitigation includes reducing the long-term effects of climate change by keeping climate impacts within manageable limits.
Shifting from a fossil-fuel-based (uses coal, oil, and natural gas) economy to a renewable-energy-sourced (uses wind, solar, and geothermal energy) economy can prevent future vulnerability. And since vulnerability is most often rooted in existing inequities like poverty and lack of access to resources, there is a need to strengthen social and economic resilience by involving and supporting marginalized groups, indigenous peoples, and women in creating robust and active programs for climate adaptation.
What about reducing the human heart’s vulnerability to climate change? Individual actions can significantly lower the risk of heart-related episodes triggered by extreme heat or pollution. These may include dietary changes (e.g., less meat consumption), active transport (e.g., choosing walking or cycling over driving), creating personal heat preparedness and assessment plans (especially for high-risk individuals), and getting adequate sleep to reduce the heart’s risk factors that can be compromised by climate whiplash.
Medication management (adjustment of medicine dosages to reduce dehydration) and environmental protection (using air purifiers or N95 masks) are essential components of the strategy. Furthermore, increasing tree cover and proximity to green spaces can lower the risk of cardiovascular mortality by providing natural cooling and filtered air. Reducing the use of asphalt and cement and improving air quality through infrastructure changes directly impact population-level heart health. Climate and the human heart are equi-vulnerable.*
*The concept of equi-vulnerability appears in two main contexts: health policy and structural engineering.
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Dr. Joel Tiu Maquiling may be reached at jmaquiling@ateneo.edu
