Demographic Transition and Climate Change in the Genesis of Emerging Epidemics and Pandemics. Correlation or Causality? Bruno Fernando Barbosa Teixeira Tasso, Francisco Carlos Bernal, Marcos Montani Caseiro

Abstract

This scientific article addresses the interconnection between the environment, demographic transition, and epidemiological transition, highlighting their relevance for understanding current events related to environmental catastrophes, climate change, and the spread of diseases. Initially, the explanatory factors for such events are discussed, such as urbanization, environmental degradation, and depletion of natural resources. Next, important milestones in global concern for the environment are presented. The article also highlights Brazilian legislation related to the preservation of natural resources and the country's participation in international conferences on the environment. Next, the relationship between climate change and health is discussed, with emphasis on the increased spread of neglected tropical diseases due to global warming. The text also addresses the demographic transition, explaining its stages and impact on population growth and Brazilian demographic dynamics. Finally, the epidemiological transition is presented, describing changes in morbidity and mortality patterns over time and relating them to demographic, social, and economic factors. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the importance of considering the environment, demographic transition and epidemiological transition as factors for global warming and the relationship with the occurrence of the latest epidemics and pandemics that the world has faced since the industrial revolution. This work used a critical-narrative method, adding dialogical criticism. The result found reveals the great probability that the demographic transition (global overpopulation) has modified the relationship between human beings and nature, promoting the epidemiological change with diseases.