Climate Change Declared Global Health Emergency in New Report
A recent report published by the medical journal The Lancet warns that climate change is posing an escalating threat to human health, leading to an alarming rise in deaths due to extreme weather conditions. The study calls for climate change to be recognised as a “global health emergency”.
Between 2016 and 2023, approximately 3 million deaths were attributed to global warming, according to findings from the Lancet Countdown, which examines climate-related health risks. Notably, heat-related deaths surged, with the report linking heat to 710,000 fatalities in 2023, of which over 70% were due to human-induced climate change.
Marina Romanello, the report’s lead author, expects the year 2025 to be even more deadly. The report uniquely quantifies heat-related deaths tied directly to climate change for the first time, analysing 54 indicators to assess its impact on health.
Romanello highlighted that the death toll from extreme heat represents merely “the tip of the iceberg”. The hidden costs include increased illnesses, strain on healthcare systems, and the risk of heat stress for outdoor workers. The report estimates global income losses linked to heat exposure to exceed $1 trillion by 2025, significantly affecting agriculture and construction.
Drought is also identified as a growing health concern, with areas experiencing water scarcity increasing by 700% from 2016 to 2025. Last year, drought impacted more than half of the world’s land for at least a month, while intense rainfall led to flooding and landslides, exacerbating the spread of diseases like dengue, which thrive in warmer, wetter conditions.
While the report acknowledges some progress, such as the benefits of renewable energy adoption and increased funding for climate-health research, it cautions that these gains are overshadowed by the rapid escalation of climate risks. Fossil fuels still supply 80% of global energy, leading to record-high emissions and millions of avoidable deaths each year.
As the next United Nations climate summit nears, the researchers urge for the formal recognition of climate change as a public health emergency, advocating for a coordinated global response similar to strategies implemented during public health crises like Ebola and Covid-19. Romanello insists that a more integrated approach is crucial to address the long-term health challenges posed by climate change.
