Climate Crisis: A Term Used to Avert an Environmental Health Medieval Era

When discussing the adverse impact of anthropogenic influence on climate, the term “climate crisis” is gradually and rightly replacing the term “climate change,” which describes a natural phenomenon characterized by continuous fluctuations throughout Earth’s history, which is currently exacerbated by human activities, resulting in an unprecedented global warming that cannot be attributed to natural causes. Furthermore, drawing from our experience as educators in environmental health, we must recognize the—in any case—productive “confusion” that arises among our students due to the 2 primary definitions of the term “climate change”—one provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the other by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The latter focuses exclusively on anthropogenic changes, in contrast to the former, which encompasses all types of changes, both natural and anthropogenic. ¹

Therefore, considering both the substantive and communicative aspects, we believe that the term “climate crisis” should replace “climate change” when describing and addressing the impacts of this ongoing phenomenon. The term “crisis” best reflects the urgent need for problem management and prompts immediate action on climate issues. As stated by the World Health Organization, the climate crisis threatens scientific and social achievements of decades. ² Humanity may face not only a situation incompatible with the principles of sustainable development but also a “dark age for environmental health” due to the mishandling of the ongoing environmental degradation.

Health must be at the center of addressing the climate crisis, under the perspective of “One Health” (ie, the health of humans, animals, and the environment). The climate crisis has far-reaching consequences that affect every aspect of our complex, multidimensional reality, which is continually marked by global and challenging humanitarian crises. Climate crisis also exacerbates already heightened socioeconomic inequalities, with climate justice at risk of becoming a forgotten term.

The management of the climate crisis must be immediate, substantial, interdisciplinary, and requires actions at both international and national levels, as well as at the local government level. Specific policy actions, such as the establishment of ministries addressing the climate crisis (such as the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection which was established in Greece in 2021), represent significant steps in addressing the problem, reflecting the seriousness of the issue and the need for immediate action.

We believe that the widespread use of the term “climate crisis” is a significant step toward addressing the problem, aiming to increase awareness, prevent a medieval era for environmental health and the associated implications for the health and well-being of future generations. The multifaceted impact of the environment on health, as seen in diseases developing in the interface between humans and animals, taking also into account environmental factors that weaken the immune system, leaves no room for complacency but rather demands immediate management. Characterizing the whole situation as a “crisis” is a first but essential step for immediate, organized action.