About the issue

AstraZeneca recognises the role of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in leading world understanding of climate change science and impact assessment, and we accept their conclusions. The IPCC has concluded that natural systems around the world are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature increases that are very likely to be the result of emissions of greenhouse gases from human activity.

Research shows that the climate system has undergone abrupt fluctuations in the distant past with resultant ecological changes and extinctions. The current warming trend is also predicted to cause extinctions among numerous plant and animal species, already weakened by other factors such as loss of habitat and pollution, and humans are also likely to face mounting challenges. Recent severe storms, flooding, heat waves, and droughts give a glimpse of what may be the consequences if computer models predicting more frequent extreme weather events are on target. The related impacts are expected to reduce water availability, increase damage to crops, and increase potential for disease.

Some of the predicted impacts of climate change are of specific relevance to AstraZeneca and the pharmaceutical industry. The relationship between climate change and health is extremely complex and both the direct and indirect impacts on peoples’ health are still subject to much academic research. Alongside medical and societal challenges posed by increasing life expectancy, population growth and diseases for which there are currently no adequate treatments, climate change may also impact disease patterns and healthcare needs.

The UNFCCC has useful further information available on climate change, its effects and how it is being tackled globally.

Read about our approach to managing the challenges.