According to a recent report from the renowned medical journal The Lancet, the burning of fossil fuels, a major contributor to climate change, is not only causing environmental issues but is also negatively impacting people’s health and lives. The eighth annual Lancet Countdown, which monitors nearly 50 health-related concerns influenced by climate change on a global scale, emphasizes the urgent need to phase out the use of fossil fuels. The report highlights that the world is already experiencing the effects of climate change, with lives and livelihoods being affected in various regions. The lead author, Marina Romanello, stresses the importance of addressing climate change promptly to avoid a potentially hazardous future.
The impacts of climate change are affecting every country, with the most severe consequences felt by those who bear the least responsibility for causing it. For instance, Pakistan, responsible for only about 0.3% of carbon emissions contributing to climate change, experienced devastating floods displacing over 30 million people and causing at least 1,700 deaths in 2022. Wealthier nations, too, are witnessing adverse effects, such as wildfire smoke causing emergency room visits in the U.S. and a summer heatwave leading to over 60,000 deaths in Europe in 2022.
The report reveals that climate change-intensified heatwaves and droughts impacted global food production in 2021, pushing 127 million people into food insecurity. Supercharged heatwaves have contributed to an over 80% increase in heat-related deaths among individuals over 65 since the 1980s.
The study utilizes the scientific technique of “climate attribution” to link climate events with health outcomes, emphasizing that nearly half of heat-related deaths would not have occurred in a world without climate change. The ability to establish these connections is a recent development in scientific research.
Climate attribution techniques allow researchers to determine the increased likelihood of climate change contributing to events like heatwaves and assess their impact on the affected population.
The Lancet Countdown report highlights significant economic costs associated with climate change. Approximately one-fifth of U.S. residents work outdoors, and extreme heat makes outdoor work increasingly challenging. In 2022, outdoor workers lost over 140 hours (several weeks of pay) due to excess heat, costing African countries an average of 4% of their GDP.
Projections suggest that both human and economic costs will escalate with each incremental rise in global temperatures. Without immediate reductions in carbon emissions, heat-related deaths could surge by nearly five times by the mid-century.
Fossil fuels make people ill
The interlinked economic and health impacts of climate change have a shared origin in fossil fuel burning, according to Dr. Renee Salas from Harvard’s Chan School of Public Health. She emphasizes that fossil fuel burning is the fundamental cause of the health problems observed globally. The report advocates directly for a reduction in fossil fuel extraction, asserting that limiting further warming would significantly decrease the number of health issues and deaths associated with climate change. Dr. Salas underscores the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuel use to address health challenges like asthma exacerbated by air pollution from combustion engines. The report serves as a primary prescription for phasing out fossil fuels, given the current global warming trajectory of 1.1 degrees Celsius since major fossil fuel extraction began.
Despite the global commitment to limit warming to below 2 degrees Celsius by swiftly phasing out fossil fuel use, the report highlights that numerous nations are actively expanding their efforts in fossil fuel extraction. In 2022, investment in fossil fuels increased by 10%, indicating a misalignment with the collective goal of addressing climate change.
Solutions to climate change can benefit global health
The Lancet Countdown report emphasizes that nearly 2 million people worldwide die each year due to prolonged exposure to fine particles generated by the combustion of coal, gas, and other fuels. The report not only underscores the immediate health benefits of reducing pollution but also calls for practical adaptations within healthcare systems to address climate-related challenges. The authors advocate for measures such as enhanced disease tracking for mosquito-borne illnesses and the development of efficient early-warning systems for heatwaves. While adaptation is crucial, the report highlights the necessity of mitigation to ensure a livable future, considering the increasing health hazards associated with climate change.
