New Paper Explores the Impact of Climate Change on the Blood Supply
April 22, 2025
A new personal view published in
The Lancet Planetary Health explores how climate change may challenge the stability of global blood systems. In the paper, researchers from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and the University of the Sunshine Coast
examined how climate-driven disruptions could affect donor health, blood safety and the availability of compatible blood products.
The study is among the first to assess the effects of climate change across the entire blood supply chain, based on a comprehensive review of international literature. It outlines how extreme weather events can impede donor access, damage infrastructure and increase demand for blood, particularly during emergencies. The paper also explores how climate change may accelerate the spread of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases with transfusion-transmission potential, in addition to discussing broader health consequences of climate change.
To build climate resilience, the authors recommend mitigation strategies across the collection, processing, transportation and distribution of blood. These include adaptable emergency response plans, expanded use of cell salvage and walking blood banks, and reinforced cold chain infrastructure. The authors also recommend flexible donor scheduling and collection site relocation, enhanced communication systems and international collaboration to maintain supply during disruptions.
The authors emphasized that while much of the existing research on climate change and blood safety has focused on transfusion-transmitted infections, their paper identified several gaps in research for other aspects of the blood supply chain, particularly related to logistics and operational resilience.
“Strengthening the resilience of the blood supply chain will be crucial for ensuring a consistent and safe supply of blood and blood products with evolving climate-related threats,” the authors wrote. “Further studies are essential to fully understand the magnitude of these potential effects and develop targeted mitigation strategies.”
