Using Social Media to tackle the threats to Global Health: Air Pollution and Climate Change

The World Health Organization (n.d) published an article on the threats to Global Health in 2019 which included air pollution and climate change, noncommunicable diseases, global influenza pandemic, fragile and vulnerable settings, antimicrobial resistance, ebola, and other high-threat pathogens, weak primary health care, vaccine hesitancy, dengue, and HIV. Since then other threats have emerged such as climate change-related disasters, the Ukraine conflict, and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.?

The population's involvement is essential to addressing these threats. The population must take responsibility for their world, and the first step to getting them involved is to raise awareness. A strong social media strategy is an excellent way to raise awareness among the population. In the weeks to come, we will discuss how each of the threats can be addressed using social media strategies.

Air Pollution?

Air pollution is an environmental health hazard. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (n.d) noted that air pollution is responsible for more than 6.5 million deaths each year globally, a number that has increased over the past two decades. Sources of pollution include vehicle emissions, burning of fuels, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, smoke from wildfires, ash and gases from volcanic eruptions, and natural gases such as methane and Nitrogen Oxide.

Overcrowding intensifies air pollution. Air quality is usually worst in densely populated cities and with the consistent increase in the world population, there is every chance that air quality worsens as years go by. Drastic measures need to be taken to ensure the air on planet Earth remains “breathable”.

Long-term exposure to air pollution can weaken the immune system and therefore will make one more susceptible to respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, Influenza, tuberculosis, and many more. Air pollution can also predispose one to malignancies such as lung cancer. The dangers of air pollution need to be considered when making health policies. The proximity of residential areas to industrial emissions needs to be considered on a national scale to protect citizens from the adverse effects of air pollution.

The citizens on the other hand need to be sensitized to the dangers of air pollution. Social media can be a powerful tool in influencing the population on how to address the dangers of air pollution. Content strategically directed at showing the need to breathe safer air can help trigger the need to take sufficient measures to prevent air pollution.

Climate Change

According to The Lloyd's Register Foundation World Risk Poll (2019), about 18% of the world is either unaware of or has no opinion on climate change. Meanwhile, an article in Search Engine Journal (Nyst, 2023) noted that 59.9% of the global population uses social media. There is a possibility that a knowledge gap may affect global efforts to tackle climate change.

Social media initiatives can help sensitize users to develop a sense of urgency toward tackling climate change. Content showing the hazardous impact of climate change on the environment and on health can make the population more aware of their actions and how they can contribute to the fight to save the planet. This can influence the population to choose “greener options” in their daily lives as national and international policies are not yet proactive enough in saving the world.

Power generation contributes majorly to global emissions. Social media strategies and campaigns can influence decisions to opt for cleaner options for power generation. Educating the population about choosing wind, solar, and other renewable sources as opposed to burning fossil fuels can help influence the population to take responsibility to save their planet. Social media initiatives can also help society step back on consuming excess power.

Single-use plastics also contribute to climate change. Plastic takes about 400 years to decompose and as a result, there is a plastic crisis. Incineration of plastic also contributes to the emission of greenhouse gasses and as a result disposal of plastic is a major challenge. Plastic pollutes the oceans and this may affect their absorption of carbon dioxide and this further hastens global warming. Society needs to be sensitized regularly on the hazards of single-use plastic to the environment.

Cutting trees is another major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. According to the United Nations (n,d), deforestation, together with agriculture and other land use changes, is responsible for roughly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. Trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. The more trees are destroyed, the less nature can keep emissions out of the atmosphere. Content creation on the need for trees can help influence decisions to save the planet

Climate change can have a negative impact on global health in a variety of ways, including extreme weather events, an increase in zoonoses, and the spread of food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases. World Health Organization (2021) predicts that between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. Social media actions need to be initiated to raise awareness of the dangers of climate change.

Conclusion

In the face of escalating global health threats posed by air pollution and climate change, the strategic utilization of social media emerges as a pivotal solution. By tapping into its far-reaching influence, social media platforms can illuminate the grave consequences of these challenges and drive proactive engagement. By utilizing innovative approaches such as influencer partnerships, data visualization, and educational content, social media can effectively raise awareness, shape policies, and motivate sustainable behaviors.

References

Geneva Environment Network (no date) Plastics and climate change: Plastics and the Environment Series, Geneva Environment Network. Available at: https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/plastics-and-climate/ (Accessed: 18 August 2023).

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (no date) Air pollution and your health. Available at: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution/index.cfm (Accessed: 18 August 2023).

Nyst A. (2033) ‘134 Social Media Statistics You Need To Know For 2023’, Search Engine Journal, Available at: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media-statistics/480507/#close

The Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll (2019) The majority of people around the world are concerned about climate change. The Lloyd’s Register Foundation. Available at: https://wrp.lrfoundation.org.uk/2019-world-risk-poll/the-majority-of-people-around-the-world-are-concerned-about-climate-change/ (Accessed: 18 August 2023).

United Nations (no date) Causes and effects of climate change, United Nations. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/causes-effects-climate-change (Accessed: 18 August 2023).

World Health Organisation (n.d) Ten threats to global health in 2019, Available at:

https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019

World Health Organization (2021) Climate change and health, Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health