A report in partnership with WHO found record heat-related deaths in 2023

The latest Lancet Countdown Report in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), found that the adverse impacts of climate change on health are increasing, with expanding fossil fuel extraction is hampering progress and threatening “catastrophic” health risks..

“Deaths from heat, drought and other climate-related risks are increasing faster than a decade ago, even as green energy investments and climate action are starting to provide health benefits,” the report’s authors said.

Key findings:

• Heat exposure causes the loss of 573 billion potential work hours by 2025, valued at $1.07 trillion
• Clean energy jobs grow by 2.3 percent by 2024, nearly double direct jobs using fossil fuels
• Cleaner air prevents an estimated 323,000 deaths per year in 70 countries where air pollution from fossil fuels has decreased
• National legislation on climate change and health has increased approximately 50-fold since 2000 and has largely increased since 2016
• Rich countries account for 55 percent of climate health legislation by 2025, compared with two percent in developing countries

Other findings show that the global area affected by extreme drought “has grown 700 percent faster than in 2006–2015”, with drought affecting 51.8 percent of the earth’s land for at least one month by 2025.

The report also examined the relationship between rising temperatures and rainfall patterns and dengue transmission, and found that conditions suitable for transmission of dengue fever by the Aedes albopictus mosquito increased by 24 percent between 1981-90 and 2016-25, while suitability for transmission by the Aedes aegypti mosquito increased by seven percent.

Drill

And in a warning that too little is being done to mitigate climate change, the report also notes that the world’s 100 largest oil and gas companies plan to produce “150 percent more fossil fuels by 2040 than is capable of keeping global warming to 1.5°C. [above pre-Industrial Revolution temperature averages]up from 138 percent the previous year.”

These and other worrying findings highlight the urgent need to formally recognize climate change as a global health emergency, according to the authors, to support stronger, health-centered climate action ahead of the UN COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye.

Priorities include accelerating reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, increasing support for adaptation and expanding investments that strengthen health system resilience.

Action on climate

WHO responds to climate change-related health risks through surveillance, early warning systems, health adaptation planning, technical guidance and emergency response teams.

The agency is also closely monitoring the expected health impacts of the ongoing El Niño event through its global incident management team, mobilizing expertise, health intelligence and support to countries most at risk.

WHO also oversees the work of ATACH (Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health), the only network of health ministries and partners working together to develop climate-resilient, low-carbon and sustainable health systems at the country level.

Scientific approach

The report – produced by researchers and institutions from around the world and led by University College London – analyzes global trends in 54 indicators linking climate change and health.

The report shows that heat-related deaths increased by nearly 36 percent in the years after 2015 Paris Agreement climate change compared to previous decades. The report also highlights worsening drought conditions, increased exposure to water extremes, and major economic losses associated with heat exposure.

Early death protection

In more positive developments, it is important Progress has been made in countering the health impacts of climate change, the report noted, pointing to a record $2.1 trillion in global investment in green energy last year..

“Many countries have reduced air pollution related to fossil fuels it is estimated to protect thousands of people from premature death every year,” he added.

The report also notes progress in climate-resilient health systems, including increased implementation of national health adaptation plans and climate-based early warning systems.

About one in four countries now has a national plan to adapt health services to climate changeup from just 14 WHO Member States in 2015; 47 countries have separately completed vulnerability assessments to support the plans.

This development follows the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warning that levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other major greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere will reach a record high in 2025, causing a long-term rise in the earth’s temperature.