Report: Climate change fuels health and food crises

LONDON

A new report from health experts emphasizes the significant health threats posed by climate change, as rising global temperatures lead to deadly heat waves, increased food insecurity, and the spread of infectious diseases.

The 2024 Lancet Countdown report, which analyzes the health impacts of climate change, warns that last year’s record high temperatures are severely affecting human health and economies. Released on Wednesday and compiled by 122 experts, including contributors from the World Health Organization (WHO), the report details growing environmental and public health crises.

Data indicates that 2023 was the hottest year on record, resulting in an additional 50 days of dangerously high temperatures for the average individual. This increase in extreme heat has adversely affected health, labor productivity, and food systems, with worse outcomes expected if global warming continues unchecked.

The health risks from rising temperatures are particularly concerning for older adults, with deaths from heat exposure among those over 65 rising by 167% since the 1990s. “Year after year, climate change-related deaths are climbing,” noted Dr. Marina Belen Romanello, executive director of the Lancet Countdown. She added that increasing temperatures not only raise mortality rates but also worsen diseases linked to heat stress, putting additional pressure on global healthcare systems.

Food security has also declined as extreme weather disrupts crop production. The report reveals that last year, extreme drought conditions impacted nearly 48% of the world’s land area, leaving around 151 million people facing food insecurity, a stark increase from averages between 1981 and 2010. Droughts and floods have affected key agricultural regions, raising long-term food stability concerns, especially for low-income communities and countries reliant on agricultural exports.

Beyond health impacts, climate change is also harming economic productivity. The report estimates that labor losses due to extreme heat reached 512 billion potential hours last year, resulting in significant economic losses. Many outdoor and agricultural workers are struggling to cope with increasingly severe heat conditions, jeopardizing their livelihoods in already vulnerable communities.

Despite these alarming findings, major oil and gas companies have increased fossil fuel production, driven by record profits and rising energy demands following the 2022 Ukraine crisis. The report warns that current policies and actions, if continued, could result in a temperature increase of 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100.
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