Skin Cancer and Climate Change: An Urgent Global Issue 

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world (American Cancer Society), typically caused by overexposure to UV radiation. This damages the DNA in skin cells, leading to mutations which may cause skin cancer (Cancer Research UK). Climate change worsens this risk due to environmental changes like the depletion of the ozone layer and rising temperatures, which cause people to become more exposed to UV radiation, resulting in an increased risk of skin cancers. In addition to this, communities in regions with high UV exposure and limited access to healthcare face an even greater risk of skin cancer. This article will explore the correlations between skin cancer and climate change and how we can aim to prevent both.

What are skin cancer and climate change, and how do they correlate?

The main types of skin cancers are:

• Melanoma – less common but more likely to spread (metastasise) and cause death.

• Non-melanoma skin cancers – including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); more common but typically less aggressive.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, in the USA, it is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, and in the UK, over 19,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed every year (Cancer Research UK), showing the severity of skin cancer cases in the US and globally. Furthermore, the rates of skin cancer are rapidly increasing in the UK: according to Cancer Research UK, the number of skin cancer diagnoses in the country has surpassed 20,000 for the first time ever. This demonstrates how skin cancer cases are rapidly increasing as a possible result of climate change.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and research from PubMed, UV exposure is responsible for the majority of skin cancer cases worldwide. But what is climate change, and how does it increase the risk of skin cancers? Climate change is ‘the long-term shift in Earth's average weather patterns and temperatures, primarily caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases’ (UN). How does this increase the risk of skin cancer? As temperatures rise, heatwaves become more frequent, and summers become longer and drier. For example, it has been shown that some summer droughts in the northern hemisphere are now 20 times more likely to happen due to climate change (Imperial). This leads to more people spending more time outdoors, further increasing the amount of unintentional UV radiation they are exposed to. Sunburns increase the risks of skin cancers, as UV rays can damage skin cells by causing DNA damage and possible mutations. This shows how there’s a direct correlation between UV rays and skin cancers. 

Cities, which are already warmer due to the ‘urban heat island’ effect (MIT), are also becoming hotspots for increased UV exposure; concrete, water and glass can reflect UV radiation, meaning that even shade may not fully protect people in dense urban areas. At the same time, climate change can reduce natural shade through tree loss, drought and environmental degradation. These factors lead to fewer shaded areas to protect people from the sun. Without enough shade, people are more prone to spending more time in direct sunlight, which increases the risk of sunburn and, later on, skin cancer. This highlights how climate change affects health in less apparent ways, beyond rising temperatures and UV levels alone.

Challenges and Uncertainties

Although there is a strong link between UV exposure and skin cancer, and the way climate change might worsen these risks is evident, uncertainties linger. From the ozone layer to genetics, it is difficult to pinpoint how much influence one factor has over another in causing skin cancer. Research carried out by the National Cancer Institute found that genetics may influence the risk of developing cancer, including skin cancer, as they found that up to 10% of cancers are a result of genetics. This may be due to the role that geographic regions and skin colour play in affecting the risk of skin cancer. Specifically, some people are naturally at higher risk because of their biology. For example, those with fair skin, freckles, or a family history of skin cancer have less “natural” protection and are more at risk of developing skin cancer (WHO, 2017). This demonstrates how only a small proportion of skin cancers are a result of genetics, and there are other contributors to the development of skin cancers.

Another challenge is that skin cancer affects the whole globe, meaning that communities which have fewer doctors and screening opportunities are more prone to being diagnosed with skin cancer at a late stage (PubMed Central). This means that many cases of skin cancer can often go undiagnosed until stages when the cancer is harder and more expensive to treat (PubMed Central, 2025). For example, in many countries in West Africa, there is less than one dermatologist per million people, whilst the UK has 10 dermatologists per million (PubMed Central). Furthermore, places with limited facilities diagnose skin cancer at later stages, when it has deepened or metastasised (National Cancer Institute). People in under-resourced regions face higher risks and worse outcomes from skin cancer, not just because of UV exposure, but because of limited healthcare access and late diagnosis.

How can we help reduce skin cancer risks?

Reducing the risk of skin cancer mostly depends on limiting UV exposure. One of the simplest ways is by applying suncream every day, at least SPF 30. In addition to this, during summer months, it is advised that you seek shade during midday, as that’s when the UV rays are strongest (NHS, 2022). Apart from personal choices, communities and governments could help reduce UV exposure by increasing the provision of shaded environments, such as tree-lined parks and covered school areas. For example, in New South Wales, Australia, the government’s Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy includes a specific goal to improve access to quality shade in public places like parks, schools and workplaces. This is because good shade can reduce UV exposure by up to 75% when used with other protections like clothing and sunscreen (NSW Government Cancer Institute, 2022). Additionally, the shortage of dermatologists and oncologists in many communities makes it harder for people to identify and treat any existing skin cancers. Dermatologists help diagnose skin cancers by performing biopsies, and oncologists help treat the cancers with different treatments like therapies. A shortage of either of these doctors can lead to an increase in late skin cancer diagnosis, further leading to potentially more severe cases.

Education and early detection of skin problems can also help reduce the likelihood of a skin cancer developing, even if UV levels continue to rise. This includes campaigns which educate people on the signs of skin cancers, such as noticing changes in existing moles or the development of new moles; seeking medical advice for these signs can help detect skin cancer early (British Association of Dermatologists, 2025). In addition to this, educating young children on how to reduce the risks of skin cancer can help reduce the chances of skin cancer later on. This is due to the fact that skin cancer is ‘often seeded in childhood’ (Michelle Baker, BBC, 2025); for instance, when a child gets sunburnt before the age of 11, this can increase the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma and melanoma in adulthood (CDC, 2024). In some primary schools in Kent and Medway, the charity named the Melanoma Fund held assemblies to help children learn how to identify UV levels and the importance of sun protection in hopes that it would help them ‘understand the risks of UV' exposure’ (Kent County Council, 2025). While this does not entirely reduce the effects of climate change and the urgency to stop it, these education strategies can reduce the risks of skin cancers, or the possibility of any existing skin cancers developing to further, more dangerous stages.

Actions taken against climate change

As part of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal 13, focusing on climate action, encourages countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and switch to renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, as well as prepare for extreme weather events. SDG 13 also supports spreading awareness of climate change. Though progress has been slow, these steps show how countries are trying to work together to protect the planet against climate change. For instance, 131 countries reported having national disaster risk reduction strategies in place in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, compared to 57 in 2015, showing some progress on climate adaptation. In the future, the international efforts under SDG 13 hope to emphasise monitoring ‘greenhouse gas reduction implementations’ (Big Earth Data in Support of the SDG (2023)).

A Global Issue Needing Global Action

Climate change is not only an environmental crisis, but it is also a growing health crisis. As global temperatures rise, UV radiation levels are increasing, and skin cancer cases are climbing as a result. Furthermore, these climate actions reduce the chances of a wide range of other global health threats, like heatstroke, to the spread of communicable diseases. This means that tackling climate change is also a way of protecting human health. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting further warming, we can help lower long-term UV exposure and, in turn, reduce the risk of skin cancer. Protecting the planet may ultimately protect our skin as well.