Public Health Wales has published a Health Impact Assessment on the health and wellbeing impacts of climate change across Wales. The assessment recognises that climate change is the greatest threat to health and wellbeing that Wales will face this century.  

Our health and wellbeing depend on important ecosystems such as water, air and soil to provide the essential conditions for a healthy life. Changes to our climate such as wetter weather in the winter, flooding, coastal erosion, and drier, hotter summers will have significant impacts on physical, mental and social health and wellbeing such as increasing heat related illness, mental health problems as a result of experiencing flooding, and disruption to essential services. 

Whilst the health of the whole population will be impacted by climate change in some way, there are groups who are likely to be more vulnerable to negative health and wellbeing impacts including older adults, children and young people, people with long term health conditions, people in certain occupation groups (such as outdoor workers), people living by the coast, and those living on a low income. 

Further information