Climate Change, Urban Health, and Climate-Resilient Public Health Systems: Global Challenges and Strategies for Managing Climate-Sensitive Diseases

Climate change has emerged as one of the most important public health challenges of the twenty-first century, profoundly influencing the epidemiology of climate-sensitive diseases and increasing the vulnerability of urban populations worldwide. This review aimed to analyze current scientific evidence regarding the relationship between climate change, climate-sensitive diseases, and the resilience of public health systems, with particular emphasis on urban environments and the Latin American context. A narrative literature review was conducted following the Scientific Method, using publications indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and official reports issued by international organizations, including the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations, and the World Meteorological Organization. The reviewed evidence demonstrated that rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, environmental degradation, and accelerated urbanization contribute to the increasing burden of vector-borne, respiratory, water- and food-borne, and heat-related diseases. Urban environments were identified as particularly vulnerable because of high population density, socioeconomic inequalities, environmental pollution, and limitations in health infrastructure. The review also highlighted that resilient public health systems incorporating epidemiological surveillance, early warning systems, climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure, technological innovation, and multisectoral governance are essential to strengthen adaptation capacity and reduce climate-related health impacts. Overall, the findings support the integration of climate adaptation into routine public health planning and emphasize the importance of international collaboration, sustainable urban development, and evidence-based policies to protect increasingly urbanized populations under future climate scenarios.