Scientists have declared climate change a "global health emergency." This call was made by nearly ١٥٠ researchers from over ٣٠ countries to draw attention to the increasing harms caused by climate change.
Increase in Heat-Related Mortality and Food Crisis
Climate change in ٢٠٢٣ is responsible for over half a million heat-related deaths, and since ٢٠١٦, the number of deaths has approached ٣ million. Additionally, areas affected by severe droughts threatening food and water supply have expanded more than ٧٠٠ percent faster than the last decade. According to the annual Lancet Countdown report on health and climate change, the costs associated with heat alone last year reached nearly $١.٠٧ trillion in lost potential income.
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Economic and Social Impacts of Climate Change
Alan Dangour, Director of Health and Climate Change at Wellcome Trust, remarked on this situation: "We must change course and place the health and well-being of people at the heart of our responses to climate change. We should measure success not through greenhouse gas emission targets or degrees Celsius, but by saving lives and improving health outcomes."
Rising temperatures specifically impact workers, leading to a loss of ٥٧٣ billion work hours by ٢٠٢٥, with agricultural workers being the most affected. Additionally, vulnerable economies in Africa and Southeast Asia are facing a ٥ percent reduction in GDP.
Satellite data shows that since ٢٠٠٣, ٤٣ percent of the world's land is becoming consistently drier, while ٣٧ percent is becoming wetter. These changes have affected over ٨٠ percent of land overall and pose a threat to crops, food supply, and public health.
In ٢٠٢٤, heatwaves and droughts have pushed nearly ١٢٨ million people into food insecurity, a significant increase compared to the average from ١٩٨١ to ٢٠١٠.
To save lives and protect human health, experts are calling for the World Health Organization (WHO) to create a new tool for countries to share information, coordinate responses, and monitor threats.
Rominalo, Executive Director of Lancet Countdown, stated: "We have enough evidence to show that such actions help improve health outcomes. Early warning systems can mitigate the negative impacts of these extreme weather events."
However, progress has generally been very slow, and fossil fuels still provide over ٨٠ percent of global energy. Costs associated with fossil fuels have doubled since ٢٠١٦, reaching $٦.٢ trillion, while some countries in ٢٠٢٤ have spent more on these subsidies than on their entire health systems.
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