Climate Change Poses Growing Health Risks as 2024 Marks Warmest Year on Record

With 2024 officially declared the world's warmest year according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, health experts are sounding the alarm about climate change's mounting impact on human health.

A new CDC report reveals that our changing climate creates "disastrous effects" for public health, affecting virtually every organ in the body through decreased air quality, extreme heat, flooding, and wildfires.

Dr. Sonia Angell from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health explains in the full report above how these environmental changes increase risks for heart attacks, strokes, lung disease, and metabolic disruptions. The impacts are particularly severe for vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, older adults, and communities with limited resources.

Watch the complete Health Minute report above to learn which groups face the highest risk, what specific health impacts researchers are studying, and practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your family in our evolving climate