A new report reveals that the global failure to adapt to climate change is exacting a heavy toll on human lives, accounting for millions of deaths annually.
Today, The Lancet released its ninth yearly “Countdown on Health and Climate Change” report. This publication, spearheaded by University College London and developed in partnership with the World Health Organization, seeks to thoroughly detail the links between climate change and health.
In a press release, Marina Romanello, executive director of the Lancet Countdown at University College London, cautioned, “The current health assessment presents a stark and unequivocal reality of severe health impacts affecting populations globally. These include unprecedented health risks from heatwaves, extreme weather, and wildfire smoke, which are responsible for millions of deaths. The devastation to both lives and economic stability will intensify unless we overcome our reliance on fossil fuels and significantly improve our adaptive measures.”
The report highlights that twelve out of its twenty indicators assessing climate change’s health risks and impacts have reached concerning new records, signaling that the health repercussions of our changing climate have reached undeniable and unprecedented levels. Extreme heat, weather events, food security, and pollution were among the indicators analyzed.
Climate change is driving an increase in the frequency of weather phenomena such as extreme heat and wildfires, which are proving fatal for thousands. The report indicates a 23% rise in heat-related deaths since the 1990s, now totaling 546,000 annually. It also revealed that in 2024, the hottest year recorded, the average individual experienced an unprecedented 16 extra days of health-threatening heat. Furthermore, air pollution from wildfire smoke contributed to a record 154,000 deaths last year.
The postponed adoption of clean energy sources is similarly detrimental to public health. Annually, 2.5 million fatalities are linked to air pollution stemming from the ongoing combustion of fossil fuels. A substantial number of these deaths could be averted through a shift to clean energy; for example, air pollution from domestic use of polluting fuels and technologies in 65 nations caused 2.3 million deaths in 2022, as per the report. The report states that energy-related emissions have hit unprecedented levels, with major global fossil fuel corporations increasing their projected output to three times what a sustainable planet can sustain. To restrict global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the Paris Agreement mandates that global emissions must reach their highest point this year at the latest and decrease by 43% by 2030.
The report urges leaders to prioritize environmentally friendly solutions that can concurrently enhance public health, cautioning that any political regression on climate pledges will only exacerbate problems. Romanello stated, “Inadequate financial backing for adaptation continues to be a major obstacle, and the report’s data indicates it is still critically insufficient to meet the financial requirements reported by nations.” She added, “A political move by some of the world’s wealthiest countries to decrease foreign aid further curtails financial assistance for climate change initiatives, rendering all populations more vulnerable.”
Despite reversals in climate initiatives within the U.S., numerous governments and communities worldwide are implementing measures, thereby realizing associated health advantages. The latest data analyzed by the study indicates that a greater move away from coal, especially in affluent nations, averted an estimated 160,000 premature deaths annually between 2010 and 2022. Additionally, renewable energy production achieved unprecedented levels in 2022.
This serves as merely one illustration, according to the report’s contributors, of how addressing climate change can lead to better health results for individuals worldwide.
Tafadzwa Mahbhaudi, director of the Lancet Countdown Africa, declared in a statement, “Action on climate change continues to represent one of the 21st century’s most significant health opportunities, simultaneously fostering development, stimulating innovation, generating employment, and alleviating energy poverty. To fully grasp the extensive advantages of a health-focused strategy, it is essential to uncover currently unused possibilities for mitigating climate change and enhancing resilience to its ongoing effects.”