Climate Change Poses Increasing Threat to Global Health: Report
AFP
Islamabad: A recent report released by the Lancet Countdown highlights the growing threats climate change poses to human health, warning that “wasted time has been paid in lives.”
The report comes at a critical time, as extreme weather events—such as heatwaves, wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, and floods—have intensified, making 2023 likely to be the hottest year on record.
As the United Nations prepares for the COP29 talks in Azerbaijan, the report underscores the urgency of addressing climate issues, particularly with a US election on the horizon that could see climate skeptic Donald Trump return to office.
Compiled by 122 experts, including those from UN agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), the eighth Lancet Countdown on health and climate change reveals a concerning trend: out of 15 indicators tracked over the past eight years, 10 have reached alarming new records.
Among these are an increase in extreme weather events, rising heat-related deaths among the elderly, the spread of infectious diseases, and food insecurity due to droughts and floods impacting crop yields.
Marina Romanello, executive director of the Lancet Countdown, emphasized that the report illustrates “record threats to the health and survival of people in every country,” reaching unprecedented levels.
The report highlights a staggering 167 percent increase in heat-related deaths among those over 65 since the 1990s. Rising temperatures have also expanded the habitat for mosquitoes, resulting in a record 5 million dengue cases reported globally last year.
Additionally, the loss of approximately 5 percent of the world’s tree cover from 2016 to 2022 has diminished the Earth’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.
Despite decades of warnings, global emissions of primary greenhouse gases rose again last year, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
The report criticizes oil and gas companies, along with some governments and banks, for “fuelling the fire” of climate change, noting that fossil fuel production has increased even as these companies report record profits. In 2022, fossil fuel subsidies reached $1.4 trillion—far exceeding commitments needed for a healthier future.
However, the report also cites encouraging signs of progress. Deaths from fossil fuel-related air pollution dropped nearly 7 percent, totaling 2.10 million from 2016 to 2021, largely due to efforts to reduce coal pollution.
The share of clean renewables in electricity generation nearly doubled during the same period, rising to 10.5 percent.
Romanello indicated that climate negotiations are increasingly prioritizing health, with notable developments expected during the upcoming COP talks and in national climate plans due early next year.
“If action is not taken today, the future will be very dangerous,” Romanello warned. “There is really no more time to waste—wasted time has been paid in lives.”
She urged individuals to adopt climate-friendly practices, avoid reliance on fossil fuels, switch to banks that invest in sustainable energy, and support politicians committed to addressing global warming.
