Review of IPCC Evidence 2022: climate change, health, and well-being

This policy brief summarizes and unpacks the state of evidence on health outlined in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). It includes information from Working Group II (WG II; Adaptation) and WG III (Mitigation). It takes a health perspective on the scope of the climate problem; outlines observations and projections for physical and mental health; summarizes knowledge on climate change impacts to environmental determinants of health (food, water, air); and discusses actioning this evidence in adaptation and mitigation strategies and climate change negotiations. In short, impacts to health are increasing. Climate risks are appearing faster and will become more severe sooner than previously expected, and it will be harder to adapt with increased global heating. AR6 reinforces evidence on climate change and health; strengthens integration of social, environment and economic considerations; and emphasizes climate change equity and justice.