How does climate change make respiratory diseases worse?
Climate change worsens respiratory health through several direct pathways: extreme heat and humidity, more frequent and intense dust storms, and increased air pollution from wildfires and fossil fuel use. These factors don't just make breathing uncomfortable—they trigger asthma attacks, COPD exacerbations, and even death. A 2022 study in Turkey, analyzing over 640,000 hospital visits, found that dust storms increased the risk of same-day asthma mortality and emergency room visits for both asthma and COPD [2]. The fine particles in dust (PM10 and smaller PM2.5) penetrate deep into the lungs, causing inflammation and airway narrowing.
Temperature and humidity shifts also play a role. A global analysis from 2000 to 2018 across 185 countries found that a 2.68% rise in relative humidity was linked to a measurable increase in COPD death rates (0.009 and 0.011 per 100,000 people) [4]. Interestingly, the same study found that rising temperatures were associated with lower death rates for both COPD and asthma in moderate climates, but this benefit disappeared in very hot or very cold regions, suggesting that the relationship is complex and location-dependent [4].
How big is the burden, and who is most at risk?
The burden is enormous and growing. Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) were the third leading cause of death globally in 2019, responsible for 4 million deaths and affecting 454.6 million people [3]. While age-standardized death rates have dropped, the total number of cases has risen by nearly 40% since 1990, driven partly by climate-related factors [3]. Low- and middle-income countries bear the heaviest toll: in Ethiopia, a 2025 meta-analysis of 21 studies found that 39% of people had chronic respiratory symptoms, with air pollution and temperature extremes as major contributors [1].
Older adults and children are especially vulnerable. A 2025 study of older adults in England found that those who used solid fuels (coal, wood) for heating—a practice that worsens both indoor air pollution and climate change—experienced a 71% faster decline in lung function over 8 years compared to non-users (0.12 liters vs. 0.07 liters lost) [5]. Children in the Middle East, where dust storms are common, have asthma prevalence rates as high as 25% in Saudi Arabia, and over 50% of children with asthma miss school due to their condition [2].
Can reducing climate pollution also improve respiratory health?
Yes—many of the same actions that fight climate change also directly improve lung health. Reducing reliance on fossil fuels and solid fuels for heating and cooking cuts both outdoor and indoor air pollution. The global burden of disease study identified air pollution as the second-leading risk factor for COPD deaths after smoking, and occupational hazards as the third [3]. Transitioning to clean cooking fuels and improving air quality could dramatically reduce the 39% prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms seen in low-income countries like Ethiopia [1].
On a personal level, staying indoors during dust storms or extreme heat events, using air purifiers, and wearing masks when air quality is poor can help. But the evidence is clear that systemic changes—like reducing emissions from vehicles and power plants—have the biggest impact. The same study that linked humidity to higher COPD death rates concluded that climate change adaptation and mitigation are crucial for reducing respiratory mortality, especially in vulnerable regions [4].
About These Sources
This answer is built on 5 peer-reviewed studies — published from 2022 to 2025, 2 from 2024 or later, 4 in Q1 journals, collectively cited 705 times — selected as the most relevant from 7 studies that passed quality screening, drawn from 54 papers retrieved from a database of over 500 million.
Sources used in this answer
Impacts of climate change on chronic respiratory health in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
A 2025 meta-analysis of 21 studies in Ethiopia found that 39% of people had chronic respiratory symptoms, with air pollution (PM2.5, PM10), temperature, and altitude as major contributors.
Desert dust and respiratory diseases: Further insights into the epithelial barrier hypothesis
A 2022 study of over 640,000 patients in Turkey found that dust storms increased same-day asthma mortality and emergency visits for asthma and COPD, with fine particles (PM10) and mold in dust triggering inflammation.
Global burden of chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors, 1990–2019: an update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
The 2019 Global Burden of Disease study reported that chronic respiratory diseases caused 4 million deaths globally, with air pollution as the second-leading risk factor after smoking.
Climate change and mortality rates of COPD and asthma: A global analysis from 2000 to 2018
A 2023 global analysis of 185 countries found that a 2.68% rise in relative humidity was linked to higher COPD death rates, while rising temperatures were associated with lower death rates in moderate climates but not in extreme ones.
Domestic Solid Fuel Use and Respiratory Health: Implications for Climate Change
A 2025 study of older adults in England found that those using solid fuels for heating lost lung function 71% faster over 8 years (0.12 liters vs. 0.07 liters lost) compared to non-users.