Impact of climate change on public health
Students Name: Bilous Ruslana Ihorivna
Qualification Level: magister
Speciality: Ecology and Environmental Protection
Institute: Viacheslav Chornovil Institute of Sustainable Development
Mode of Study: full
Academic Year: 2024-2025 н.р.
Language of Defence: ukrainian
Abstract: Bilous R.I., Popovych O.R. (Supervisor). The Impact of Climate Change on Public Health. Master’s Thesis. — Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv, 2024. Abstract The master’s thesis is dedicated to studying the impact of climate change on public health. Climate change, manifested through global warming, extreme weather events, and ecosystem degradation, has become one of the main ecological and social threats in the modern world. The research analyzes how these changes affect physical and mental health, including the spread of infectious diseases, risks of cardiovascular pathologies, allergic reactions, and stress disorders. The object of the study is public health in the context of climate change. The subject of the study is the relationship between climate change and the factors influencing public health. The aim of the study is to identify the main health risks associated with climate change. The thesis analyzes regional risks, social and economic factors exacerbating the negative effects of climate change, and proposes recommendations for integrating health issues into climate adaptation strategies, with an emphasis on protecting children and vulnerable populations. The conclusions highlight the need for a cross-sectoral approach to minimizing impacts, including the integration of efforts in healthcare, education, energy, and ecology. Key industries that contribute to climate change intensification—such as energy, agriculture, transport, and industry—are analyzed. Their impact on public health is assessed through harmful emissions, temperature regime shifts, and changes in water and air quality. An important aspect of the study is the evaluation of climate change effects on children as the most vulnerable group. Their susceptibility to new and widespread infectious diseases, the impact of climatic instability on physical and psychosocial development, and risks related to reduced access to clean water, quality food, and healthcare services are thoroughly examined. Keywords: climate change, public health, extreme weather events, infectious diseases, adaptation, global warming. List of References 1. Climate Change and Health: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. 2. Trofymchuk, O.M., Dubrovskyi, V.I. (2018). Climate Change in Ukraine: Challenges and Consequences for Public Health. — Kyiv: Akademperiodyka. 3. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine. Analysis of the Impact of Climate Change on Public Health in Ukraine. 4. Kondratiuk, S.A. (2021). The Climate Crisis and Its Consequences for Public Health in Ukraine.