Climate Change Presents Unprecedented Health Risks: New Report

A new report reveals that climate change significantly threatens global health, with record increases in deaths, disease, and food insecurity linked to environmental extremes. It emphasizes a critical need for immediate action to mitigate these impacts and highlights both alarming trends and some positive developments in renewable energy and pollution reduction.

A comprehensive new report highlights the escalating health risks associated with climate change, indicating that actions not taken promptly have resulted in a significant toll on human lives. Released amidst a backdrop of unprecedented environmental crises—including intense heatwaves, wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, and floods—the report suggests that 2023 may eclipse previous years in terms of temperature records. Coinciding with impending UN COP29 discussions in Azerbaijan and the potential return of climate change skeptic Donald Trump to the White House, the report is particularly timely. Compiled by 122 experts, including members from UN agencies such as the World Health Organization, the report from the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change reveals alarming trends across 15 monitored indicators, with 10 of these setting new record highs. Factors such as increased extreme weather events, elderly fatalities due to heat, the proliferation of infectious diseases, and food insecurity from droughts and floods are of particular concern. According to Marina Romanello, executive director of the Lancet Countdown, the report illustrates that “there are record threats to the health and survival of people in every country, to levels we have never seen before”. The report notes a striking 167 percent increase in heat-related deaths among individuals over 65 since the 1990s and highlights a record number of over five million dengue fever cases globally last year—trends attributed to heightened temperatures expanding the habitats for mosquitoes. The loss of approximately five percent of global tree cover between 2016 and 2022 further diminishes the planet’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, the report underscores the detrimental role of oil and gas companies, along with certain governments and banks, in perpetuating climate change through fossil fuel production and subsidies—amounting to $1.4 trillion in 2022. While it acknowledges the harmful impacts, there are also indications of progress; specifically, the decrease in deaths from air pollution linked to fossil fuels, which fell by nearly seven percent from 2016 to 2021. Moreover, the proportion of renewable energy in electricity generation nearly doubled during the same period. Romanello emphasizes that if no decisive actions are taken currently, the consequences for future generations could be severe. She urges individuals to adopt climate-friendly diets, utilize cleaner transportation methods, divest from banks supporting fossil fuels, and vote for leadership committed to tackling climate change.

The report on health and climate change, known as the eighth Lancet Countdown, was developed to monitor the intersection of environmental changes and public health outcomes. It comes in a critical moment when global climate talks are imminent, and numerous natural disasters are occurring worldwide, heightening the importance of understanding these interconnected challenges. The insights derived from the report are intended to raise awareness and prompt urgent action against the ongoing climate crisis, specifically its tangible impacts on human health.

In conclusion, the Lancet Countdown report starkly outlines the growing perils posed by climate change to human health, emphasizing that immediate action is imperative to prevent further loss of life. While significant challenges remain, there are signs of progress that offer hope for a healthier future if the momentum for change is maintained. The urgency of addressing climate-related health threats cannot be overstated, as the time for decisive action is now.

Original Source: www.barrons.com