The health risks of climate change are reaching record levels, experts warn

People in Britain are increasingly exposed to dangerous extreme heat as global health threats from climate change reach record-breaking levels, experts warn.

Across the world, people were exposed to an average of 50 more days of health-threatening temperatures in 2023 than would be expected without climate change, while extreme drought affected 48% of the global land area, according to the latest Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report. .

The higher frequency of heat waves and droughts was related to 151 million more people experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity than each year between 1981 and 2010.

At the same time, 61% of the world’s land area saw an increase in extreme rainfall over the past decade, increasing the risk of flooding, infectious diseases and water pollution, while the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue has increased.

In Britain, people are increasingly exposed to health-threatening extreme heat, increasing the risk of heat-related illness and death, with an average of nine additional deaths per 100,000 people over the period 2013-2022.

Every infant and adult over 65 years of age was exposed to an average of 6.5 days of heat waves per year between 2014 and 2023, while 8.5 million potential working hours were lost to extreme heat in 2023, an increase of 166% compared to the average of the 1990s, with construction workers hit hardest. the report warns.

The report also warns that people’s health in Britain was hit by air pollution, with 29,500 deaths in 2021, with fossil fuels responsible for 44% of those cases, and early deaths costing £70 billion – but that a shift is taking place towards zero emissions and clean energy. can tackle climate and health problems.

And unhealthy, unsustainable diets contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and harm health, but a shift to more balanced diets would reduce deaths and tackle climate change, the report says.

The report shows that ten of the fifteen indicators that map the health threats from climate change have reached new record levels.

The report’s authors accuse governments and companies of continuing to fan the flames by investing in fossil fuels, and say the trillions of dollars spent on financing oil, gas and coal should be used to transition to clean economies.

Dr. Marina Romanello, executive director of the Lancet Countdown at University College London, said the findings, released as countries prepare for the next round of UN climate negotiations in fossil fuel-rich Azerbaijan, were the most worrying in the eight years of climate change. report.

“Last year saw new climate change records – with extreme heatwaves, deadly weather and devastating wildfires affecting people around the world,” she said.

“No individual or economy on this planet is immune to the health threats of climate change.

“The relentless expansion of fossil fuels and record-breaking greenhouse gas emissions are exacerbating these dangerous health consequences, threatening to reverse the limited progress made to date and put a healthy future further out of reach.”

Dr. Romanello added: “Despite this threat, we still see financial resources being invested in the things that undermine our health.

“Repurposing or subsidizing the trillions of dollars invested in the fossil fuel industry each year would provide the opportunity to achieve a fair, just transition to clean energy and energy efficiency, and a healthier future, which will ultimately benefit the global economy.”