Donal Hickey: Links between climate change, rising temperatures and health in Ireland

As our climate warms further, hospital admissions for conditions linked to temperature are projected to increase by 12.2% during hotter weather, in the 2041–2060 period. Basic protections such as wide-brimmed hates and high-factor sunscreen are important.

New research shows clear links between climate change, rising temperatures and health in Ireland.

Time was when warnings about the dangers of over-exposure, and need for protection, from the sun amounted to virtually the only health warnings with the coming of summer.

There was plenty of advice about the dangers of skin cancer, but we’re now told that hot weather significantly increases hospital admissions for temperature-related conditions.

People with heart diseases and children are most impacted by yet another far-reaching consequence of climate change. 

Published by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), findings show emergency hospital admissions, from 2015 to 2019, for temperature-affected diseases, were 8.5% higher on hot days (up to 25°C) compared to moderate temperature days (10°–13°C).

The largest increases in hospitalisations on hot days were seen for circulatory, respiratory and infectious diseases; and amongst younger people (0-14 years).

On days where temperatures exceeded 25°C, results also showed signs of people adapting to the situation, especially those older, which suggests advance notice of very warm days can help people change their behaviour.

As our climate warms further, hospital admissions for conditions linked to temperature are projected to increase by 12.2% during hotter weather, in the 2041–2060 period.

We’re told climate change could lead to 1,400 additional deaths annually in Ireland by the end of the 21st century, highlighting the need for mitigation actions.

The research was funded by the Irish Heart Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society, with Averil Power, cancer society chief executive, warning of an array of health issues in the coming years, including air pollution.

“We’re now in a race against time to put proper mitigation plans in place to cut climate change and to implement effective strategies to ensure Ireland has a resilient, fully staffed and future-proofed health system."

Whenever we get a bit of warm, sunny weather, Irish people are notorious for baring their skin, sometimes ignoring simple, basic protections like wearing wide-brimmed headgear, covering the ears and neck, and putting on high-factor sunscreen.

As we live in hope of a fine summer, the HSE urges people to keep cool, saying signs of heat exhaustion include headache, dizziness, high temperature, sweating and loss of appetite.

The elderly and children are most at risk from this and anyone so affected needs to cool down and be given fluid, while medical aid may be needed in some cases.

With the holiday period upon us, most summers offer some stretches of fine weather and there’s always a possibility of at least a few very good weeks. Actual heatwaves, however, come only about once in a decade.