Climate Crisis Threatens Human Health: Over 489k People Killed by Extreme Heat in a Decade
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a warning that the ongoing climate crisis poses a significant threat to human health. According to their recent report, over the past decade, extreme heat has claimed the lives of more than 489,000 individuals worldwide. Shockingly, 45 percent of these deaths occurred in Asia, while 36 percent took place in Europe.
The implications of climate breakdown are vast and potentially devastating, with extreme heat, air pollution, disruption of food systems, and the spread of diseases at the forefront of the crisis. Africa is expected to be the region most severely affected, accounting for 50 percent of the excess deaths resulting from climate change in the future. Unfortunately, Africa currently lacks sufficient monitoring systems for approaching extreme weather events, making it particularly vulnerable.
The WMO report further highlights that less than a quarter of governments worldwide utilize climate data to monitor health risks, particularly when it comes to extreme heat, which is the deadliest consequence of global warming. This failure to capitalize on available scientific knowledge and resources leaves populations at increased risk and undermines efforts to protect public health.
The devastating impact of extreme heat is evident across different regions. Between 2000 and 2019, approximately 489,000 lives were lost due to extreme heat events, with Asia and Europe bearing the highest burdens at 45 percent and 36 percent, respectively. In 2022 alone, Europe witnessed more than 60,000 heat-related deaths, including over 3,000 fatalities in the United Kingdom.
Heat-related deaths tend to be most prevalent in regions such as Central and South America, southern Europe, southern and Southeast Asia, and Africa. Disturbingly, if global temperatures continue to rise, it is estimated that there could be up to 30 times more heat-related deaths worldwide.
Furthermore, the impact of climate change extends beyond extreme heat. Rising temperatures exacerbate air pollution and agriculture-related challenges such as drought, both of which have severe consequences on human health. The WMO emphasizes that air pollution ranks as the fourth leading risk factor for premature death, contributing to approximately seven million deaths annually. Additionally, drought is becoming increasingly widespread, affecting 29 percent more of the Earth’s land area between 2012 and 2021 compared to the mid-20th century.
Food insecurity is another alarming consequence of worsening droughts and heatwaves. The report notes that by 2020, an additional 98 million people across 103 countries reported moderate to severe food insecurity compared to the period between 1981 and 2010.
The changing climate also facilitates the spread of diseases such as dengue fever, while certain regions experience an extended transmission season for malaria. Scientists predict that climate change will result in more injury, disease, and death, with increased frequency and intensity of temperature extremes, cyclones, storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires.
The looming health crisis requires urgent action and collaboration. By 2030, it is projected that there will be 560 medium or large-scale disasters annually, underscoring the need for effective early warning systems. The WMO highlights that countries lacking adequate warning systems experience eight times higher mortality rates compared to those with robust coverage.
While climate information is pivotal in improving public health, the report reveals that less than half of all countries receive warnings for extreme heat. Bridging this gap and making high-quality climate services more accessible to the health sector is crucial to protect individuals from the perils of climate change.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), asserts that the climate crisis is a health crisis. Its severe and unpredictable weather events, coupled with disease outbreaks and higher rates of noncommunicable diseases, necessitate collaborative efforts to provide the health sector with accurate climate services. By doing so, we can safeguard the health and well-being of those facing the consequences of climate change.
In conclusion, the alarming number of lives lost to extreme heat in the past decade is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the climate crisis. The detrimental effects on human health, including air pollution, disrupted food systems, and the spread of diseases, require immediate attention and action. Governments and organizations must prioritize the use of climate data to monitor health risks and protect vulnerable populations, especially in regions like Africa where monitoring systems are lacking. The time to act is now to mitigate the devastating consequences of climate change on human health.
