Kate Cubley - Addressing health allergies in a climate change world

Climate change is making seasonal allergies and respiratory illnesses more prevalent with respiratory and vocal health impacted and resulting in a knock-on to people’s mental wellbeing.

Researcher Kate Cubley’s work has shownthat these physical and mental problems are affecting people’s cognitive ability and the result can often be an increase in sick days and stress.

Kate is a vocal coach and PhD researcher evidencing how practical breathing exercises can ameliorate allergy symptoms, boost vocal stamina and reduce anxiety. This enhances people’s climate resilience and addresses some key challenges related to human health and the healthcare system.

Climate change is already impacting human health, as are the emissions and pollution that contribute to this phenomenon.

Kate’s work looks at the rising cases of allergic rhinitis, pollen allergies, thunderstorm asthma and food allergies.

She argues that the issues need to be properly considered during the development of sustainable farming, in the planning of transforming our food systems and in considering the needs of worldwide human health.

She said: “The unique human ability to communicate effectively is paramount in addressing the growing climate change concern. Understanding how pollen allergy can undermine human health is an important consideration as we rethink, reboot and refocus the climate agenda.”