The Climate Crisis and Health Economics in Turkey

Abstract

Climate change has become one of the most comprehensive, persistent, and structurally transformative global challenges of the contemporary era, reshaping not only natural ecosystems but also economic systems, social relations, political priorities, and public health outcomes. Since the Industrial Revolution, accelerated industrialization, rapid population growth, fossil fuel dependency, urban expansion, and unsustainable patterns of production and consumption have significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions have intensified the greenhouse effect, leading to a sustained rise in global average temperatures and long-term disruptions in atmospheric, hydrological, and ecological systems. As a consequence, climate variability has increased, and extreme weather events such as heatwaves, prolonged droughts, irregular precipitation, floods, storms, forest fires, and sea level rise have become more frequent and more severe, generating widespread environmental degradation as well as profound economic and health-related consequences.

In recent decades, climate change has increasingly been recognized as a systemic risk rather than a purely environmental issue. Its impacts penetrate deeply into economic performance, labor markets, social welfare systems, and public health infrastructures. Among these interconnected dimensions, health impacts constitute one of the most critical yet frequently underestimated aspects of climate change. Climate-related health risks arise through complex, cumulative, and mutually reinforcing pathways that operate across spatial and temporal scales. Direct impacts include heat-related illnesses, injuries, and excess mortality associated with extreme weather events, while indirect impacts emerge through changes in air quality, water availability, food systems, disease ecology, and socioeconomic stability. These pathways interact with existing vulnerabilities, amplifying health risks for already disadvantaged populations.

From a biomedical and public health perspective, climate change has altered the global burden of disease in both visible and less visible ways. Rising temperatures increase the incidence of heat exhaustion, heatstroke, cardiovascular stress, and respiratory complications, particularly among elderly individuals, children, outdoor workers, and people with chronic illnesses. Heatwaves have been consistently associated with spikes in hospital admissions and excess mortality across diverse climatic regions. At the same time, climate-induced changes in atmospheric conditions exacerbate air pollution, especially particulate matter and ground-level ozone, intensifying respiratory and cardiovascular diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, and stroke.

Beyond these direct effects, climate change significantly influences the distribution and transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. Altered temperature and precipitation patterns affect the habitats and life cycles of vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, increasing the geographic spread of vector-borne diseases including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile virus. Water-related diseases are also affected, as extreme rainfall events and flooding compromise water and sanitation infrastructure, increasing the risk of diarrheal illnesses. Furthermore, disruptions to agricultural productivity and food supply chains caused by droughts, heat stress, and extreme weather events contribute to food insecurity, undernutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among low-income and rural populations.

Climate change also exerts profound effects on mental health, an area that has only recently gained broader recognition in academic and policy discussions. Exposure to climate-related disasters such as floods, wildfires, and storms is associated with increased prevalence of anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and long-term psychological distress. In addition, the anticipation of future climate impacts, often described as climate anxiety or eco-anxiety, affects mental well-being even in the absence of direct physical exposure. These mental health effects have important implications for social cohesion, labor productivity, and overall quality of life, yet they remain insufficiently integrated into climate and health policy frameworks.

From an economic perspective, the health impacts of climate change generate substantial direct and indirect costs. Increased morbidity and mortality lead to rising healthcare expenditures, higher utilization of medical services, and growing pressure on already strained health systems. Productivity losses due to illness, disability, heat stress, and premature death reduce labor supply and economic output. Indirect costs include lost educational opportunities, reduced human capital accumulation, and diminished long-term growth potential. These economic consequences highlight the central relevance of health economics in analyzing climate change, as health outcomes and economic performance are deeply interdependent.

Health economics provides a theoretical and empirical framework for understanding how limited resources can be allocated efficiently to maximize health outcomes and social welfare. Within this framework, health is conceptualized both as a consumption good that directly enhances individual utility and as an investment good that contributes to human capital formation, labor productivity, and economic growth. Climate change undermines both dimensions by deteriorating population health and increasing uncertainty and risk. As climate-related health burdens grow, societies face difficult trade-offs regarding healthcare financing, resource allocation, and intergenerational equity.

The economic burden of climate-related health impacts extends beyond national borders and has global implications. Health systems worldwide are increasingly exposed to climate shocks that disrupt service delivery, damage infrastructure, and strain emergency response capacities. At the same time, the distribution of climate-related health risks is highly unequal. Vulnerable populations—including low-income households, elderly individuals, children, migrants, and those with limited access to healthcare—bear a disproportionate share of the burden. Developing and middle-income countries often face higher exposure and lower adaptive capacity despite contributing relatively little to cumulative greenhouse gas emissions. This unequal distribution raises fundamental questions about environmental justice, global responsibility, and equity in climate policy.

Within this global context, Türkiye represents a particularly important and illustrative case for examining the intersection of climate change and health economics. Geographically located in the Mediterranean basin, Türkiye is among the regions identified as highly vulnerable to climate change. The country has experienced a significant increase in average temperatures, more frequent and intense heatwaves, declining precipitation in certain regions, prolonged droughts, floods, forest fires, and increasing water stress. These environmental changes directly affect population health and indirectly influence economic stability and social welfare.

Türkiye’s long-term meteorological records provide robust evidence of changing climate patterns. Recent years have been characterized by record-breaking temperatures and an increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Heat stress has emerged as a growing public health concern, particularly in densely populated urban areas where the urban heat island effect exacerbates exposure. Rural areas, on the other hand, face heightened risks related to drought, agricultural losses, and water scarcity, which have implications for nutrition, livelihoods, and mental health.

Air pollution constitutes another critical pathway through which climate change affects health in Türkiye. Energy production, transportation, and industrial activities remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels, contributing to high levels of particulate matter and other pollutants. Climate change interacts with these pollution sources by altering atmospheric conditions, leading to more frequent temperature inversions and prolonged pollution episodes. As a result, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases impose a growing burden on the healthcare system, increasing healthcare expenditures and reducing quality of life.

Climate-related ecological changes also raise concerns regarding the emergence and spread of climate-sensitive infectious diseases in Türkiye. Shifts in temperature and humidity create favorable conditions for vectors in regions where they were previously absent, increasing the risk of disease transmission. These developments pose new challenges for public health surveillance, prevention, and response, requiring additional investments in health system capacity and preparedness.

The economic implications of these health impacts are increasingly visible. Türkiye has experienced a steady rise in healthcare expenditures over recent decades, driven by population aging, expanded healthcare coverage, and epidemiological transitions toward chronic diseases. Climate change acts as a risk multiplier by exacerbating existing health burdens and increasing the frequency and severity of health emergencies. Productivity losses due to illness, heat stress, and premature mortality further compound these economic costs, affecting labor markets, household incomes, and overall economic performance. As healthcare expenditures continue to rise, concerns about fiscal sustainability and efficient resource allocation become more pronounced.

Türkiye has developed a range of national climate policies and strategies aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing adaptive capacity. Updated Nationally Determined Contributions, long-term climate strategies, and sectoral action plans reflect growing recognition of climate-related risks. The country has also declared its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2053. However, despite these efforts, the health dimension of climate change remains insufficiently integrated into climate policy design. Health impacts are often treated as secondary or indirect outcomes rather than as central policy objectives.

International experience demonstrates that integrating health considerations into climate policy can generate substantial economic and social benefits. Mitigation and adaptation measures frequently produce significant health co-benefits that exceed their implementation costs. For example, transitioning away from coal and other fossil fuels improves air quality, leading to immediate reductions in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and lower healthcare expenditures. Investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable transportation reduce emissions while simultaneously improving population health. Urban planning policies that promote active transportation, green spaces, and climate-resilient infrastructure enhance physical and mental well-being while reducing vulnerability to extreme weather events.

From a health economics perspective, such integrated policies improve allocative efficiency by addressing multiple objectives simultaneously. Rather than treating climate mitigation, adaptation, and health improvement as separate goals, integrated approaches recognize their interdependence and exploit synergies. Cost-effectiveness analyses and health impact assessments provide valuable tools for evaluating policy options and prioritizing interventions that yield the greatest health and economic returns.

In the Turkish context, adopting a health-centered climate policy framework could significantly improve long-term outcomes. Strengthening climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure, expanding early warning systems for extreme weather events, investing in preventive public health programs, and prioritizing vulnerable populations are essential strategies for reducing future health and economic costs. Enhancing intersectoral coordination between health, environment, energy, transportation, and urban planning institutions is also critical for effective policy implementation.

Mental health deserves particular attention within this framework. Climate-related disasters, economic insecurity, and environmental degradation contribute to psychological distress and reduced well-being. Addressing mental health impacts requires integrating psychosocial support services into disaster response plans and expanding access to mental healthcare, particularly in high-risk regions. From an economic perspective, investments in mental health yield high returns by improving productivity, reducing healthcare costs, and strengthening social resilience.

Public awareness of climate change and its health implications in Türkiye has increased in recent years. Surveys and perception studies indicate that air pollution, extreme heat, droughts, floods, and forest fires are widely recognized as major climate-related threats. This growing awareness creates opportunities for public engagement and behavioral change, but it also underscores the need for effective communication strategies that emphasize the health and economic benefits of climate action. Policies framed as investments in public health, social resilience, and economic stability are more likely to gain public support and long-term political commitment.

In conclusion, climate change represents a multidimensional crisis that profoundly affects human health and economic sustainability at both global and national levels. In Türkiye, increasing exposure to climate-related risks amplifies existing health burdens and places mounting pressure on healthcare systems and public finances. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated approach that combines climate policy with health economics, recognizing health as a central pillar of sustainable development. Evaluating climate actions through their health impacts and economic returns enables policymakers to design more effective, equitable, and resilient strategies. Ultimately, integrating health economics into climate policy is essential not only for protecting population health but also for ensuring long-term economic stability, social welfare, and resilience in Türkiye and beyond.