A comprehensive new report released today by the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), paints a concerning picture of the impact of climate change on human health worldwide.
The 2025 report reveals that inaction on climate change is costing lives, straining health systems, and undermining economies. Alarmingly, 12 out of 20 key indicators tracking health threats have reached record levels.
“Every fraction of a degree of warming costs lives and livelihoods,” said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Care at WHO. “Climate inaction is killing people now in all countries, but taking action against climate change represents the greatest health opportunity of our time.”
The report highlights distressing statistics, including:
– A 23% increase in heat-related mortality since the 1990s, resulting in an average of 546,000 deaths per year.
– Droughts and heatwaves have led to 124 million people facing moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023.
– Heat exposure is projected to result in a loss of 640 billion potential labor hours in 2024, equating to $1.09 trillion in productivity losses.
– Governments spent $956 billion on net fossil fuel subsidies in 2023, which is more than triple the annual amount pledged to support climate-vulnerable countries.
The report emphasizes the urgent need to rapidly phase out fossil fuels in favor of clean renewable energy and to promote more efficient energy use. It also advocates for healthier, climate-friendly diets and sustainable agricultural practices.
“Rapidly phasing out fossil fuels in favor of clean renewable energy and improving energy efficiency remains the most powerful lever to slow climate change and protect lives,” stated Dr. Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown at University College London.
The health sector is making progress in addressing climate change, with health-related greenhouse gas emissions falling by 16% globally between 2021 and 2022, while also enhancing the quality of care. Nearly all reporting cities (834 out of 858) have completed or plan to complete climate risk assessments.
As the world prepares for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the findings of the 2025 Global Report of the Lancet Countdown provide crucial evidence for accelerating health-centered climate action.
Key Recommendations:
1. Rapidly phase out fossil fuels in favor of clean renewable energy and improve energy efficiency.
2. Shift to healthier, climate-friendly diets and more sustainable agricultural systems.
3. Implement climate-resilient health systems and infrastructure.
4. Increase climate finance and support for vulnerable countries.
5. Prioritize health-centered climate action and integrate health into climate policies.
The report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global action to address the health impacts of climate change and to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
