Changes in climate will affect the Earth in many significant ways, and these will in turn affect our health and the way we live. Luckily, humans are becoming smarter and more inventive about how we deal with the changes that are happening.

In the past 100 years, deaths from natural disasters have dropped by over 75% relative to the global population. Even though it might seem that disasters are more frequent and intense, scientists are developing better warning systems and stronger infrastructure (such as buildings and bridges), and these improvements have made the world safer.

Disaster prevention is costly, however. Wealthy nations, such as the United States, are better-equipped to handle disasters than poorer countries, which often lack resources for large-scale adaptation efforts. As a result, those poorer countries will face the worse effects of climate change.

Rising temperatures can contribute to the spread of diseases as warmer temperatures push animals into new areas. For example, tropical bats seeking cooler temperatures may introduce a new virus to animals hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Diseases like malaria and dengue, which today are primarily confined to the tropics, could affect more people in new areas in the coming decades. We’re already seeing the spread of diseases like Lyme as climate change allows ticks to move further north.

Extreme heat is another growing challenge. Currently, 8 million Americans experience temperatures over 125°F each year. At such temperatures, it’s unsafe to be outside for longer than a few minutes. By 2050, that number could rise to 100 million. Such heat is dangerous for any physical activities outside, including sports, and is especially dangerous for outdoor workers.

Air quality will worsen too. Higher temperatures will increase pollution and allergens, leading to more asthma and allergy issues. By 2050, the US could see a 70% rise in unhealthy air-quality days.

To meet the challenges of a changing climate, our health systems will need to change. We’ll need advanced technology for early-warning systems to predict and monitor events like heat waves, air-quality crises, and disease outbreaks. We’ll need to adapt the way we build our cities and homes to better-handle warmer weather. And we’ll need more health-care professionals and researchers focused on vaccines and diseases, and innovations to ensure food and water security.