Brains are what keep us functioning. Dare I say, they keep us alive. Our brains differentiate and make us deeply unique from each other. Do you know why most people “pull the plug” on patients when they are presumed “brain-dead”? Well, I am about to explain why climate change will deeply affect our society’s future livelihoods.

Our brains regulate our bodies and help us adapt to the changing environment around us. Climate change, especially rising temperatures, is a huge new challenge for our brains. As temperatures and humidity rise, the brain triggers sweating, alerting us to move to a cooler place. The brain’s range of temperatures where we feel most comfortable is about 68-78 degrees Fahrenheit, with 20%-80% humidity. Due to the climate change around us, our brains have to work overtime to assess our needs and manage our bodies in response to rising temperatures, which, in some cases, can lead to malfunctions. In this speech, I will explain the three primary impacts of climate change on the brain.

Photo of speech delivery at retreat Rowan Hood —
Youth Climate Presentation: Martha’s Vineyard Program 2026.

1. Growing temperatures exacerbate existing neurological diseases

As temperatures and humidity rise, conditions such as strokes, migraines, meningitis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s can worsen. Brain diseases have a major global impact on humans. A recent study by The Lancet Neurology found that 1 in 3 people are affected by neurological conditions, making it the leading cause of disability and illness across the world. Brain diseases and neurological conditions have increased by 18% since 1990.

The American Brain Foundation recorded in 2021, 3.4 billion individuals were affected by a nervous system condition, which corresponds to 43.1% of the global population, and these conditions caused 11.1 million deaths. This indicates that brain diseases will only worsen as temperatures continue to increase. We have to continue researching and developing ways to slow or mitigate these consequences.

2. Rising temperatures impair cognitive function and productivity

Cognition is detrimental to our well-being as it helps us make important decisions, take in information, and even function properly in daily activities. Cognitive activity relies on the brain region sensitive to heat. At the molecular level, exposure to heat waves reduces blood flow to the brain, disrupting oxygen levels and causing fatigue. Studies show that this is particularly evident in children and young adults exposed to substantial air pollution. Their verbal and math skills appear to be declining. The cognitive deficiency becomes more pronounced as people age, especially among men and less educated individuals. This will become much more important as we are the future generation of our world. We have to be cognitively functional to create change and stop global warming.

3. Severe weather patterns harm mental health

Away from the theme of rising temperatures, severe weather patterns such as wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, and floods have recently been seen to increase unhealthy mental health patterns. The loss and displacement are causing major anxiety attacks, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal thoughts. Even people who aren’t affected by these agonizing events have expressed that they are having anxiety about climate change — about two-thirds of U.S. citizens, to be exact. Emergency departments have been seeing increasing visits due to mental health-related issues, which will only get worse as climate change continues.

The people who will be most affected are the homeless and adolescents. 25% to 30% of homeless people already have severe mental health problems and are much more exposed to the changing environment. Young kids may be affected in the near future, as it may worsen their early childhood development.

To protect our society and future generations, we must protect our brains — our memories, our emotions, our creativity, and our solution for climate change. The first step is saving ourselves. Thank you for listening!

Isla Terbeek and other students at the Martha’s Vineyard retreat, 2026.

Works Cited

American Brain Foundation. “The Effects of Climate Change on Brain Disease.” American Brain Foundation, 6 Aug. 2024, americanbrainfoundation.org. Accessed 26 June 2026.

Chen, Xi. “Air Pollution, Global Warming and Cognition.” Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 16 May 2024, ysph.yale.edu. Accessed 26 June 2026.

Hough, Emily, and Nathaniel Counts. “How Climate Change Affects Our Mental Health, and What We Can Do About It.” The Commonwealth Fund, 29 Mar. 2023, commonwealthfund.org. Accessed 26 June 2026.