Climate change and disability: a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) perspective

Climate change phenomena, such as droughts, floods, heat waves, hurricanes, and wildfires, have a deleterious effect on nature and the health of the people, especially on vulnerable population cohorts, such as persons with disabilities (PwD). PwD are disproportionately affected by the health effects of climate change and experience a greater burden due to various physiological, socio-economic and health-related factors. Rehabilitation professionals as trusted care providers/educators have an integral role in global efforts to educate, advocate and protect vulnerable people from the adverse impact of climate change. They are in a distinctive position as they are experts in understanding the complex medical, physiological and psychosocial needs of PwD. Although the impact of climate change on health is widely documented, the literature on the effect of climatic factors on PwD is sparse. Further, specific rehabilitation and disability-inclusive climate action plans are yet to be developed and/or implemented globally. As the climate-change-related health burdens continue to grow the critical importance of rehabilitation services is apparent. The challenge ahead is to build a structured people-centered approach to building rehabilitation-inclusive climate-resilient health systems to improve the adaptive capacity and resilience of the most susceptible people with distinct healthcare needs.