A new report reveals that climate change is driving unprecedented health risks, with record levels of mortality, infectious diseases, and food insecurity resulting from extreme weather events. The report underscores the urgent need for global action as COP29 approaches, amid rising emissions and fossil fuel production.
PARIS — Climate change is increasingly posing formidable threats to human health, as detailed in a comprehensive report released on Wednesday. Experts have cautioned that the delays in addressing this critical issue have resulted in significant mortality and morbidity. The report comes at a time when the world is witnessing unprecedented climatic events, including heat waves, wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, and floods, with 2023 anticipated to be the hottest year recorded to date. This urgent report was timed just ahead of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) scheduled to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Additionally, it arrives amid a consequential U.S. election that could potentially re-instate climate change skeptic Donald Trump to the presidency. The eighth Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, a collaboration of 122 experts from international organizations such as the World Health Organization, highlights alarming trends. Out of 15 indicators tracked over the past eight years, ten have reached unprecedented levels of concern, including increased extreme weather phenomena, rising death rates among the elderly due to heat exposure, the proliferation of infectious diseases, and food insecurity resulting from adverse climatic conditions impinging on agriculture. Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown, emphasized to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the findings exhibit “record threats to the health and survival of people in every country, to levels we have never seen before.” The report delineates a staggering 167 percent increase in heat-related mortality among older adults since the 1990s. The rise in global temperatures has facilitated the expansion of mosquito habitats, thus aggravating the transmission of deadly diseases; for instance, last year marked a historical peak in dengue fever cases, exceeding 5 million globally. Additionally, the report indicates that approximately 5 percent of the world’s tree cover was lost between 2016 and 2022, which diminishes Earth’s capacity to sequester carbon dioxide emissions. It further critiques the role of fossil fuel companies, alongside certain governments and financial institutions, in exacerbating climate change. Despite long-standing warnings, greenhouse gas emissions surged again last year, according to recent findings by the World Meteorological Organization. The surge in fossil fuel production by major oil and gas corporations, which have recently posted record profits, is highlighted, as is the tendency of numerous countries to introduce new subsidies for fossil fuels to mitigate the impact of rising oil and gas prices following Russia’s incursion into Ukraine in February 2022.
The ongoing discourse surrounding climate change has reached a critical juncture, particularly in its implications for public health. A plethora of authoritative reports underscore the multifaceted threats posed by increasingly severe environmental changes. The Lancet Countdown, for instance, provides key insights into the interplay between climate and health, tracking various indicators over time to reveal the escalating dangers. With global temperatures on a consistent rise, health risks are proliferating, ultimately leading to greater incidence of mortality and diseases. The recent report serves as a significant wake-up call ahead of international climate negotiations and political decisions that may influence future climate policies and public health outcomes.
In summary, the latest Lancet Countdown report elucidates the grave health risks associated with climate change, highlighting a worrying increase in mortality rates and the spread of infectious diseases due to environmental changes. The evidence presented reinforces the urgent necessity for global action to mitigate these threats. The delay in responding to climate phenomena has dire consequences, and continued inaction could result in escalated health crises. Policymakers and stakeholders are called upon to prioritize climate action to safeguard public health in the face of ongoing global challenges.
Original Source: www.manilatimes.net
