Climate Change Declared a Global Health Emergency in Lancet Report
• A recent Lancet report highlights the escalating health impacts of climate change, urging global recognition of the crisis as a public health emergency. The report reveals that climate change was responsible for 68% of heat-related deaths between 2016 and 2023, a significant increase from 55% in the previous decade. Extreme weather events, including droughts and floods, are intensifying, with 43% of the world's land drying out and 37% becoming wetter since
• These changes threaten food security, water supplies, and sanitation. The economic toll is also severe, with heat-related losses amounting to $1.07 trillion globally in
Impact & Risks
The report underscores the severe risks posed by climate change to public health and livelihoods. Heat-related deaths have surged, with over half a million fatalities recorded in 2023 alone. Vulnerable populations, particularly in Africa and South-East Asia, are disproportionately affected, with heatwaves and droughts pushing millions into food insecurity. Economic losses are also significant, with farmworkers and low-income communities bearing the brunt. Water extremes, such as droughts and floods, exacerbate the risk of infectious diseases and disrupt essential services like sanitation and food supply chains.
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