Global health. The current scenario and future perspectives

125 than spontaneous combustion. Fires occur due to a combination of factors: improperly extinguished campfires, half-extinguished cigarette butts, glass bottles or lighters left in wooded areas can trigger the start of a fire. Additionally, climatic conditions such as wind, high temperatures and drought can worsen the forest fires. These conditions are partly influenced by climate change. The effects of forest fires on population health are well known and include mental health effects, direct injuries and even death, as well as an increase in air pollution, which contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases (Holm et al., 2021). ● Air pollution: The use of fossil fuels has global and local effects. Globally, the increase in greenhouse gas emissions leads to global warming and climate change. Locally, pollutants near the ground directly impact the health of millions of people. In particular, the combustion of gasoline or oil engines produces volatile organic compounds that interact with solar radiation, which results in tropospheric ozone (O 3 ), which is highly irritating to human respiratory systems. Furthermore, the use of fossil fuels releases other gases, black carbon and particulate matter 2.5, which also cause certain respiratory and cardiovascular diseases (Karanasiou et al., 2021). ● Expansion, reproduction and survival of mosquitoes and other vectors: Changes in precipitation patterns and temperature can alter the viability of the geographic expansion, reproduction and survival of certain vectors, especially mosquitoes. Various insects carrying viruses or parasites thrive in warmer and more humid environments. Climate change could cause the expansion of a geographic area that favors these vectors and put the health of millions of people at risk, not only in tropical regions but also in mid-latitudes. Malaria is one of the main public health problems, a disease transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, which carries the Plasmodium parasite. This mosquito thrives under optimal temperatures between 15 and 32°C and 50-60% humidity. Projections suggest that this mosquito could migrate to other geographic areas and expand its range and potential malaria transmission to a larger population (Caminade et al., 2014). Inequality and climate change While the evidence clearly shows the effects of climate change on different natural and human systems, including potential impacts on population health, social factors can magnify or mitigate the impact of these effects on the population and are known as social determinants of health (Figure 3). For example, floods and subsequent crop losses directly affect economic and social systems, which potentially exacerbate geopolitical conflicts between and within countries. This undoubtedly impacts the well-being and health