Climate Change and Veterinary Human Health from the Perspective of One Health

Utpal Das¹, Mahendra Pal^2, , Ravindra Zende³ and Aishwarya Nair³

¹Pet Cure, 58 A, Sastitala Street, Rishra, Hooghly, West Bengal, India

²Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology, Bharuch, Gujarat, India

³Department of Veterinary Public Health, Mumbai Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai, India

Cite this paper:
Utpal Das, Mahendra Pal, Ravindra Zende and Aishwarya Nair. Climate Change and Veterinary Human Health from the Perspective of One Health. American Journal of Public Health Research. 2025; 13(4):170-176. doi: 10.12691/ajphr-13-4-4

Abstract

Addressing climate change has emerged as a top priority on the global agenda, exerting profound and multifaceted impacts on both human and animal health. Anthropogenic climate change poses a significant threat to biodiversity by degrading ecosystems upon which all species on Earth depend for survival. In recent years, the rate of ecosystem degradation has accelerated, surpassing earlier projections. These adverse effects extend beyond human populations, impacting domestic animals, wildlife, and the broader environment. Since the early 2000s, the One Health approach has gained prominence, underscoring the necessity of collaboration across human, animal, and environmental health disciplines. Veterinary Public Health has played a pivotal role in advancing this interdisciplinary framework to address the complex interconnections between climate change and health. The rising number and intensity of climate events conditions, including floods, prolonged droughts, and heatwaves, have disrupted ecological equilibrium, facilitated the spread of infectious diseases, and forced the displacement of both humans and animals. This review uniquely examines ecosystem degradation driven by climate change and explores mitigation strategies through the integrated lens of Veterinary Public Health and the One Health approach. It underscores the critical need for a coordinated, transdisciplinary response to build climate-resilient health systems. The review highlights the importance of collaborative action at local, national, and global levels, aligning efforts with One Health principles. Enhancing early warning systems, developing climate-resilient health infrastructure, and fostering interdisciplinary education are essential for strengthening One Health initiatives in the context of a changing climate.

Keywords:
Climate change Ecosystem degradation Veterinary Public Health One Health

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