London: The world’s failure to curb fossil fuel use and adapt to a warming planet is costing millions of lives annually, according to the 9th annual Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report released on Tuesday.
The report — produced by University College London in collaboration with the World Health Organization and 128 experts from 71 institutions — found that twelve of twenty tracked health indicators have reached record highs as heat, pollution, and extreme weather intensify worldwide.
Between 2012 and 2021, heat-related deaths rose 23% compared to the 1990s, averaging 546,000 fatalities each year. In 2024 alone, wildfire smoke pollution was linked to 154,000 deaths, while fossil fuel-related air pollution accounted for 2.5 million deaths globally. The report also notes a 49% rise in dengue transmission potential since the 1950s.
“This year’s health stocktake paints a bleak and undeniable picture of the devastating harms reaching all corners of the world,” said Dr Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown. “The destruction to lives and livelihoods will continue to escalate until we end our fossil fuel addiction and dramatically up our game to adapt.”
The study highlights that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with rising temperatures and droughts fuelling food insecurity for over 120 million people. Governments, meanwhile, spent nearly US$ 956 billion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2023—more than triple the global funds pledged to help vulnerable countries cope with climate change.
However, the report also points to encouraging progress. Shifts away from coal and cleaner air have already saved around 160,000 lives annually, while renewable energy generation reached new highs in 2022, supporting over 16 million jobs.
“Communities and local governments are proving that progress is possible,” Dr Romanello added. “Rapidly phasing out fossil fuels remains the most powerful lever to slow climate change and protect lives.”
The Lancet report concludes with a call for “all hands on deck” — urging governments, health systems, and citizens to accelerate climate action that both mitigates emissions and safeguards public health.
