COP27: Climate change threatening global health – report
Climate change is severely impacting people’s health around the world, a report by a leading medical publication has found.
The Lancet Countdown report says the world’s continued reliance on fossil fuels increases the risk of food insecurity, infectious disease and heat-related illness.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres responded that global leaders must match action to the size of the problem.
Leaders will meet for the major climate conference COP27 in Egypt next month.
The report includes the work of 99 experts from organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and is led by University College London.
It describes how extreme weather has increased pressure on health services globally already grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Temperature records have been broken around the world in 2022, including in the UK where 40C was recorded in July, as well as in parts of Europe, Pakistan and China.
The health impacts of extreme heat include exacerbating conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory disease and causing heat stroke and poor mental health.
Guterres said that the world is watching G20 countries, which produce 80% of global greenhouse emissions. They must step up efforts to slash emissions and lead the way by investing more in renewable energy, he added.
“Human health, livelihoods, household budgets and national economies are being pummelled, as the fossil fuel addiction spirals out of control,” he said.
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