Climate change in Türkiye and its impact on oncology nurses

This review examines climate change in Türkiye and its implications for oncology nurses and cancer care. The paper draws on published evidence, national statistics, reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Turkish State Meteorological Service, and other national and international sources to describe climate change trends in Türkiye, including rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and growing numbers of extreme weather events. It also reviews the direct and indirect effects of climate change on health and discusses how these impacts intersect with oncology services and nursing practice in Türkiye.

The review finds that climate change negatively affects human health through temperature extremes, floods, storms, fires, air pollution, infectious diseases, and other health risks. It notes that oncology care in Türkiye generally continued during climate-related events, although the February 2023 earthquakes disrupted cancer care, damaged health infrastructure, and required patients to be transferred to other cities.