Climate Change And Sleep: Is There A Connection?

Climate change has the potential to harm our health indirectly by reducing our ability to sleep well. Globally, one third of the adult population already doesn’t get enough sleep, and extreme weather like heat waves makes this worse. Climate anxiety and stress also impact our health, and further contribute to sleepless nights.

by Naida Salkovic

Sleep is an important physiological process and plays a crucial role in maintaining our health [1]. There is a growing body of research that points to the impact of sleep on health, and the connection between sleep and the development of certain diseases. Quality sleep benefits our brain function, immune system, heart health, hormone regulation and even mental health [2]. 

Meanwhile, findings from multiple research papers indicate a link between temperature, extreme weather events, and disrupted sleep. Vulnerable populations such as the elderly can be particularly affected by these events [3].

Sleep and environment affected by climate change

Climate change has the potential to significantly impact every aspect of human health. As the average global temperature continues to rise, extreme heat events are expected to become more frequent [4]. Other climate-induced extreme weather events such as floods and hurricanes are also on the rise. 

Some studies estimate that a 1°C deviation in nightime temperatures over a month can be associated with an increase in insufficient sleep [5]. One paper found that heat waves had a negative impact on the sleep of newborns and their parents [6]. Weather events such as flooding, hurricanes, wildfires, or other extreme conditions are also likely to increase mental health problems, resulting in sleep disturbance [3].  

The impact of sleep disturbance on productivity and mental health

Besides being crucial in maintaining health, sleep is essential for energy and performance at work or school. Cognitive functions such as memory, alertness, judgment, decision-making, and attention span are all affected by sleep deprivation [7]. Research suggests that each additional hour of sleep per week can increase the probability of employment, as well as weekly earnings [8], and some studies suggest that people who sleep for 5-6 hours or less experience a decline in productivity [9]. Already, one third of the global adult population is estimated to be sleep deprived, a figure which could rise due to the sleep-related impacts of climate change [10].

Aside from productivity, sleep deprivation and events connected to climate change can be triggers for health problems. Insufficient sleep is linked to a higher risk of hypertension, stroke, anxiety and depression [11]. Climate change affects mental health in various ways, from raising stress levels, to contributing to post traumatic stress disorder and anxiety due to extreme weather events, all of which can negatively affect the overall quality of life and health.  Mental health problems are also connected to sleep disorders such as insomnia or nightmares [12].   

It is clear that climate change can affect both sleep and mental health. As temperatures continue to rise and climate-induced weather events intensify worldwide, it is likely that these impacts will be more pronounced. 

References:
[1] Irwin MR. Why sleep is important for health: a psychoneuroimmunology perspective. Annu Rev Psychol. 2015 Jan 3;66:143-72. doi: 10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115205. 
[2] Baranwal N et al. Sleep physiology, pathophysiology, and sleep hygiene. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2023 Mar-Apr;77:59-69. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2023.02.005.
[3] Daniel I. Rifkin et al. Climate change and sleep: A systematic review of the literature and conceptual framework, Sleep Medicine Reviews, Volume 42, 2018, Pages 3-9, ISSN 1087-0792, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2018.07.007.
[4] U.S. Global Change Research Program. Climate change impacts in the United States. U.S. National Climate Assessment (2014). http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo48682
[5] Obradovich N.  et al. Nighttime temperature and human sleep loss in a changing climate. Sci Adv, 3 (5) (2017), p. E1601555
[6] Berger, S.E., Ordway, M.R., Schoneveld, E. et al. The impact of extreme summer temperatures in the United Kingdom on infant sleep: Implications for learning and development. Sci Rep 13, 10061 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37111-2
[7] Khan MA, Al-Jahdali H. The consequences of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2023 Apr;28(2):91-99. doi: 10.17712/nsj.2023.2.20220108. PMID: 37045455; PMCID: PMC10155483.
[8] Costa-Font, J, and S Fleche (2017), “Sleep deprivation and employment”, VoxEU.org, 1 May.
[9] Ishibashi Y, Shimura A. Association between work productivity and sleep health: A cross-sectional study in Japan. Sleep Health. 2020 Jun;6(3):270-276. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2020.02.016. Epub 2020 Apr 28. PMID: 32360021.
[10] Pankowska MM et al. Prevalence and Geographic Patterns of Self-Reported Short Sleep Duration Among US Adults, 2020. Prev Chronic Dis 2023;20:220400. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.220400
[11] Watson NF et al. Recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: a joint consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. Sleep 2015;38(6):843–4.
[12] Palagini L et al. Sleep, insomnia and mental health. J Sleep Res. 2022 Aug;31(4):e13628. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13628.