4Ps framework: practical actions to protect individual health in the current climate crisis.

Abstract

Climate change driven by anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions represents an immediate and grave threat to human health and survival. Sea level rise, altered weather patterns and increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather events can damage health directly (eg, injury, heat stress, altered aeroallergen and particulate exposure). They also bring indirect health impacts through altered patterns of zoonotic and vectorborne diseases, disruption of food systems and downstream social consequences (economic collapse, mass migration and conflict).Healthcare providers and healthcare workers all need to take immediate action to drive and deliver reductions in GHG emissions, and to help patients in better managing the health impacts brought about by climate change. Here, we propose the '4Ps framework' (Personal, Professional, Pathway-specific and Policy) to empower and facilitate such action.