Since the beginning of the 20th century, the global annual average temperature has been on the rise at increasingly alarming rates. Worryingly, 2024 is projected to be the hottest year on record over the past 174 years observational period. Rising heat is not only a matter of discomfort. High temperatures pose various health risks and increased challenges within the healthcare sector.
Given the rising importance of identifying, addressing, and managing risks that are brought on by higher temperatures, this paper attempts to highlight the risks of hotter temperatures to Malaysia’s public health. Utilising a compilation of international and local research previously conducted on this topic, this paper serves to establish a comprehensive and contextualised relationship between rising temperatures and public health vulnerabilities in Malaysia.
This paper finds that:
- Globally, rising temperatures can have detrimental effects on public health. Warmer temperatures have been found to increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, worsen non-communicable diseases, and increase the risk of vector-borne diseases.
- Malaysia’s combination of high temperatures and humidity places an added vulnerability towards heat-related illnesses. At the current average maximum temperature, Malaysia’s heat index shows high exposure to heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and increased risks of heat stroke. As both average mean and maximum temperatures increase, the risk of heat-related illnesses will also increase.
- Beyond heat-related illnesses, warmer temperatures can worsen other health issues for Malaysians. Non-communicable diseases such as ischemic heart disease, respiratory diseases, and diabetes can also worsen as temperatures rise. Additionally, increased transmission of vector-borne diseases such as dengue is likely under warmer temperature scenarios.
- Vulnerability towards heat-induced health issues is not equal across all Malaysians. Variability among local climates, age-related vulnerabilities among children and the elderly, as well as working in specific sectors can place an added risk of heat-related illnesses or other health conditions worsened by heat.
Despite the certainty that temperatures will rise in the next few decades, there are gaps in the mention of measures for managing heat-related illnesses and other heat-induced health conditions in Malaysia. Hence, it is imperative that early action and proper identification of vulnerable communities are taken to build the resilience of Malaysians against these heat-induced health concerns.
