Even when it gets warmer than 24 degrees, my hands start to swell. Sometimes they also go numb. When it gets hotter, it gets harder to move, the contractions come more often, the blood pressure drops as well, and the support socks I have to wear make me even hotter.
As a pregnant woman, high heat can be both stressful and dangerous. Research shows that high heat increases the risk of, among other things, miscarriage, preeclampsia, low birth weight and stillbirth.
The consequences of a warmer climate are particularly noticeable for children, pregnant women and the elderly. Not only high temperatures are a problem, but also other consequences of climate change that we are already seeing now make life more stressful.
● More, more active and new species of biting mosquitoes that can carry harmful viruses such as Nile fever virus or eventually even malaria to a greater extent.
● Toxic algal blooms or vibrio bacteria that can cause canker sore fever, which can be incredibly dangerous, sometimes fatal.
● More ticks carrying harmful viruses and bacteria.
The heat itself is troublesome, but it also becomes more difficult to find coolness when the water is not suitable for swimming and staying outdoors in the shade risks becoming a dangerous mosquito bath.
The changes we are seeing now are just the beginning of what will happen if we humans continue to drive the warming. Preparedness and climate change are closely linked.
For my unborn child, I am worried that the preparedness is too low, that the food will not be enough when crops dry up or rain disappears or when the growing season is shortened due to possibly affected ocean currents. It is not made easier by the fact that Sweden's degree of self-sufficiency in food is relatively low, even lower if you take into account that the seed for some of our most common crops is largely imported (for example, seed for oilseeds such as rape where about 70 percent is imported, according to the Swedish Food Agency, or seed potatoes, where imports amount to 57 percent, according to the Swedish Agency for Agriculture). The challenges are many.
It is astonishing how little is done both to reduce emissions, but also to adapt society to the consequences of an already affected climate. There is a lack of measures both nationally and internationally.
The solution is not that we buy even more gadgets in the form of fans or AC systems. In order for the future to be bearable for all of us, much more needs to happen politically.
It is a shame that politicians are neglecting to address the challenges that put all of our health at risk. It is in everyone's interest to have a tolerable climate, clean water, clean air and access to healthy food (even in times of crisis).
We citizens must also realize that we are part of society and of democracy. In addition to avoiding what is most harmful to the climate and health, we must make our voices heard, demand change, be seen, heard and vote.
Should you perhaps get involved in an association and find out more about what you can do? There are both nationwide associations such as the National Climate Council or the Nature Conservation Association, professional-specific associations or local groups. Check out the book climate psychology, where there is, among other things, an impact ladder where you can see where your efforts have the most effect.
There are a number of conversion proposals that, in addition to reducing emissions, also improve our health and the environment.
● Physically active transport (eg cycling or walking) improves health, reduces the need for healthcare and reduces air pollution from fossil-fuelled vehicles.
● A more plant-based diet reduces emissions, improves health and makes our intestinal flora much happier.
These changes need to be driven by politicians, but can of course be started directly by individuals. More purely political measures can be, for example:
● More green areas that lower the temperature in extreme heat, absorb water in extreme amounts of rain and make our local environment more beautiful and calming.
● Phase out fossil subsidies, introduce a road tax combined with cheaper public transport and expand renewable electricity from wind and sun as proposed by the Norwegian Parliament.
The list of changes that reduce climate impact, increase our resilience to the negative effects already seen and at the same time improve our health can be made long.
This autumn there are elections. What do you choose?
