A new report released by health experts warns that climate change is causing dangerous temperature increases, leading to more deaths, the spread of infectious diseases, worsening drought, and food insecurity. The Lancet Countdown report, based on the work of 122 experts including the World Health Organization, revealed that in 2023 – the hottest year on record – the average person experienced 50 more days of dangerous temperatures due to climate change.
The report highlighted that current policies are pushing the world towards a 2.7 degrees Celsius increase in global temperatures by 2100. Of the 15 indicators tracked by the experts, 10 have reached concerning new records, including extreme weather events, heat-related deaths in the elderly, and food insecurity due to droughts and floods.
The report also pointed out that oil and gas companies, along with some governments and banks, are exacerbating climate change by increasing fossil fuel production. Rising temperatures are not only leading to more deaths and disease, but they are also causing significant economic losses, with last year’s extreme heat resulting in an estimated 512 billion potential labor hours lost.
Despite the grim outlook, there have been some positive developments, with deaths from fossil fuel-related air pollution decreasing and the share of clean renewables used for electricity generation nearly doubling. The report urged the upcoming United Nations climate summit, COP29, to prioritize investment in public health to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Overall, the report underscores the urgent need for action to address the devastating health impacts of climate change, as no individual or economy is immune to its threats.
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