Geneva: The World Health Organisation (WHO) and global partners have issued a call to action, urging that the protection of human health be recognized as a key driver in combating climate change. This appeal comes in light of a new global report revealing that 12 out of 20 critical indicators for health threats have reached unprecedented levels, underscoring the severe consequences of climate inaction on human well-being, health systems, and economies.
According to Emirates News Agency, the 2025 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report, developed in collaboration with WHO, has documented a 23 percent increase in heat-related mortality rates since the 1990s. Currently, heat-related deaths average 546,000 annually. Contributing factors such as droughts and heatwaves have exacerbated the situation, pushing an additional 124 million people into moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023.
The report further elaborates on the economic toll of heat exposure, which resulted in the loss of 640 billion potential labor hours in 2024, leading to productivity losses valued at US$1.09 trillion. Additionally, the financial implications of heat-related deaths among older adults amounted to US$261 billion.
It also highlights the disparity in governmental spending, with US$956 billion allocated to net fossil fuel subsidies in 2023-more than three times the annual financial commitments made to aid climate-vulnerable nations. Alarmingly, fifteen countries allocated more funds to fossil fuel subsidies than to their entire national health budgets.
Despite these challenges, the report points to some positive developments. Between 2010 and 2022, an estimated 160,000 premature deaths were avoided annually due to reduced coal-derived outdoor air pollution. The adoption of renewable energy has reached a milestone, now accounting for 12 percent of global electricity and supporting 16 million jobs worldwide.