Vision 2030: Climate adaptation for improved cardiovascular-renal-metabolic health outcomes

Using a backcasting approach, this report presents a roadmap to a better possible future: “By 2030, we envision a world where the effects of climate change on cardiovascular-renal-metabolic health have been minimised, fostering equitable and inclusive care.” This report has taken a disease-specific focus, namely adaptation for the better care and management of people living with cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases.

Climate change will have huge effects on disease burdens and the capacity of our health systems to deal with them. This is particularly the case for cardiovascular, renal and metabolic conditions. This related group of diseases includes some of the world’s biggest killers: five of the top 12 causes of death globally belong to this category of illnesses, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) alone account for just under a third (32%) of global deaths each year. The wider interaction of climate change and health is getting increasing attention by international bodies, such as the World Health Organisation, and national governments. These efforts will be crucial to prepare for the challenges ahead. However, climate change and health will also need granular solutions to adaptation needs arising from specific illnesses.