Enabling climate resilience with PodTech™
Human health is inextricably linked with environmental health in more ways than you think. Beyond the direct health impacts of extreme weather events like floods and heatwaves, there are several indirect impacts that affect people’s health and overall quality of life.
A World Economic Forum report titled Quantifying the Impact of Climate Change on Human Health found that by 2050, climate change will cause 14.5 million deaths and more than 2 billion healthy life years lost. In other words, a hotter planet will be a sicker, more dangerous one. There are multiple pathways through which this will happen:
Immediate toll of extreme weather events. Climate change causes higher temperatures and more extremes of weather. The number of climate change-related natural disasters has increased. Floods, heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and tropical storms have claimed several lives and made the direct impacts of changing weather patterns evident.
Disruption to food systems. Climate change has affected the environmental conditions in which crops grow. This has impacted harvests, causing failed harvests and consequently, food shortages. The World Food Programme has studied this phenomenon and found that by 2050, the risks of hunger and malnutrition could increase by about 20% if we don’t do enough to fight the climate crisis.
Changing geographical range of vectors. Research by water and health experts has found that in Africa – currently the epicentre of the global malaria crisis – the conditions for malaria transmission will witness a significant change. While West Africa’s climate will become less suitable for the spread of malaria, regions near rivers – like the Nile in Egypt – won’t be so lucky. These regions are where human populations are expected to increase and unfortunately, the temperature and humidity will also suit disease-carrying mosquitoes. Similarly, changing climatic patterns will also dramatically alter where other disease carrying pathogens and vectors will thrive. Think dengue fever and the West Nile virus in Europe, in regions which have traditionally not been at high risk from mosquito-borne diseases.
Thawing of permafrost. Higher temperatures mean that areas that have consistently been frozen through the year aren’t so anymore. As permafrost thaws, it is releasing the microbes it held hidden under the ice, increasing the risks to human health.
Close contact between humans and wild animals. Deforestation is destroying natural habitats for agriculture, housing and other human activities. Deforestation as well as activities like the exotic animal trade are bringing human beings and animals in close contact, increasing the risk of pathogens jumping from animals to humans. There is a very real danger that such zoonotic diseases, like Covid-19, could be the cause of the next global pandemic.
Some predictable, some not so much.
Having studied the topic for decades, the scientific community is familiar with the connections between climate and mosquito-borne diseases. Warm temperatures, humid air, and stagnant water to breed in are the predictable conditions in which disease-causing mosquitoes thrive.
Human beings have evolved to be comfortable in the temperature range of 20˚ C to 26˚ C and within 20% and 80% humidity. Our neurons, with their several electrically active components, are accustomed to working well together within a fairly narrow range of temperatures. As environmental conditions quickly move beyond that range, our brains are likely to struggle with temperature regulation and possibly impaired brain functions.
Higher temperatures have been linked to an increased incidence of Alzheimer’s, dementia, stress, anxiety, and depression. Extreme weather events like heat waves increase people’s chances of getting strokes and heart attacks. Climate change also hampers people’s access to the determinants of good health like clean water, air, livelihood and healthcare which, in turn, adversely impact people’s health.
For the majority of other parasites and diseases, however, the scientific community has not much idea what to expect.
One thing is clear. Whether expected or unexpected, the impacts of climate change on human health will be severe. We have no time to lose in preventing new public health crises, managing existing ones, and building resilient health systems which are capable of addressing the problems of not just today but also the future.
Building climate resilient health infrastructure with PodTech™.
Resilient and sustainable health systems have two features. They not only address the human health impacts of climate change but they also minimise their own impacts on the environment. PodTech™ is committed to achieving this dual mission using our robust podule™ technology.
Shorter supply chains. Due to their modular, self-contained nature, PodTech™’s podules™ can be easily installed in remote regions, regardless of support from local infrastructure. This means that medicines, vaccines and diagnostics can be made where they are needed, when they are needed. This results in shorter supply chains, which results in a lower carbon footprint. It also enables regional production facilities to respond to regional demand, helping supply to effectively match demand and preventing wastage.
Resource efficiency. Factory-based modular construction enables better control of energy use and emissions, leading to a reduction in energy consumption during the construction phase. With fewer workers onsite and shorter construction periods, factories can achieve substantial energy savings and lower environmental impact, both of which are critical to the mission of sustainability.
Durability. Whether we use light-gauge steel frames or pre-cast concrete panels, the podules™ we build are extremely robust. Not only can they withstand long transits to project sites but they are also weatherproof and seismically designed. As with all things truly sustainable, they remain in good condition for decades, without the need for frequent rebuilding.
Recyclability. Advances in technology also mean that prefabricated construction today can use recycled or environmentally friendly materials. This results in minimal construction waste. Moreover, when a prefabricated factory is no longer needed or has reached the end of its lifespan, it can easily be dismantled and repurposed. There is no need for explosive-based demolition, making both modular construction and demolition more eco-friendly than traditional construction.
At the end of the day, we cannot have healthy humans without a healthy planet. This is why PodTech™ is committed to enhancing access to healthcare without adversely impacting the environment.
If you, too, are committed to a greener future for the biopharma industry and the planet, reach out to us for your biopharma production needs.