Climate change has been declared the single biggest health threat facing humanity. Its negative effects on health are broad, extending to all human organ systems, including the kidneys. Increased ambient temperatures and heat extremes translate into more AKI, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections, which may evolve into CKD and kidney failure. Higher temperatures, along with more flooding events, increase diarrheal, rodent- and mosquito-borne disease spread, all major causes of AKI in low-income and tropical regions. Strenuous work and prolonged exposure to high temperatures have been identified as probable contributors to epidemics of CKD in diverse world regions, a health crisis that has disproportionately affected underprivileged populations. The science is clear—no degree of further temperature rise is safe to health. We must urgently curb emissions to avert catastrophic health effects and prevent millions of avoidable deaths. Although every sector needs to play its part in limiting climate change, the responsibility is particularly great for the health care sector, which exists to protect and improve health. Health care is also a major part of the problem, contributing an estimated 4-6 of global greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, if global health care were a country, it would be the world’s fifth largest emitter.
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