Recognising Climate Change as a Global Health Emergency
Climate change must be acknowledged as a worldwide health emergency, given the alarming rise in climate-related fatalities, the surge in diseases linked to this crisis, and the inadequacy of international agreements aimed at preventing environmental collapse. This assertion comes from 146 multidisciplinary researchers across over 30 countries, who warn that without urgent collaborative action grounded in scientific evidence, humanity’s ability to adapt will lag significantly.
This demand is one of the key conclusions drawn from the tenth report of The Lancet Countdown, spearheaded by University College London (UCL) in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO). The report monitors 54 indicators regarding the impact of climate change and the effectiveness of measures taken to address its effects on health.
The research focuses on various parameters, including the availability of water on Earth, the greenhouse gas emissions within the healthcare sector, funding for health and climate research, legislative engagement in this area, and mortality rates attributable to extreme heat associated with global warming.
Insights from the Lancet Countdown Report
Marina Romanello, Executive Director of Lancet Countdown, highlights that the analysis indicates significant progress in the transition to clean energy and the preventive capabilities of healthcare systems. However, she asserts that these efforts remain insufficient.
“One decade after the Paris Agreement, our findings are unequivocal: the health damages caused by climate change are escalating faster than the global response, and in many cases, this acceleration is intensifying. […] Therefore, we demand that climate change be formally recognised as a global health emergency, with health at the core of all climate-related decisions,” she emphasised.
The report specifies that between 2016 and 2023, extreme heat was linked to an average of 540,800 deaths annually, with 68% attributed to climate change. This translates to nearly 3 million fatalities related to the climate crisis during the analysed period.
Intense heatwaves also diminish human productivity. The study estimates that in 2025 alone, the global economy lost an estimated $1.07 trillion in potential income due to high temperatures.
The Disruption of the Water Cycle
Moreover, the authors indicate that climate change is significantly disrupting the water cycle, leading to the emergence of extreme weather events that threaten livelihoods, food supply chains, and sanitation systems.
The analysis reveals that last year, approximately 51.8% of the world’s land area experienced extreme drought conditions for at least a month. Over the past decade, the area affected by this phenomenon has increased at a rate more than seven times greater than that recorded between 2006 and 2015.
Conversely, extremely heavy rainfall events are becoming increasingly common. The land area affected annually by such intense precipitation rose from 14.8% between 2006 and 2015 to 17.2% between 2016 and 2025. This trend heightens the risk of flooding, landslides, and waterborne diseases.
In many instances, droughts and extreme rainfall occur simultaneously, disrupting hydrological cycles. Since 2003, 43% of the planet has experienced a long-term decrease in water storage, while 37% has seen an increase. According to scientists, this combination of changes contributes to extreme phenomena affecting over 80% of the Earth.
Identifying Insufficient Climate Actions
The experts also recognise progress in climate-related initiatives. Notably, global investments in clean energy reached $2.1 trillion in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.2% and surpassing fossil fuel investments by 82%, which totalled $1.16 trillion.
Furthermore, the report highlights that an increasing number of countries have established strategies to adapt their healthcare services to climate change. Of the 195 WHO member states, 54 now have a national plan in place. Additionally, national laws addressing both climate change and health have multiplied nearly 50 times since 2000.
Funding for health and climate research has also risen, increasing from $42 million in 2016 to $316 million in 2024. Anthony Costello, co-chair of the Lancet Countdown initiative, asserts that these advancements demonstrate that “health-centred climate action works.” However, he maintains that current efforts are “completely out of sync with the pace and scale of the damage.”
One of the most revealing indicators of the inadequacy of climate measures is the persistent gap between the financial resources allocated for adaptation strategies and the funding required for their implementation.
Urgent Need for Political Will
The report suggests that preliminary estimates indicate developing countries require at least $3.3 billion annually to adapt their healthcare services to climate change. However, in 2024, only about $1.1 billion was committed for this purpose.
Helen Clark, Chair of the Lancet Countdown Board, concludes that the report serves as “a clear warning that climate change is a health emergency. What is lacking is not evidence, but the political will to act.” She adds that governments must intensify their climate efforts and revive international cooperation, not only to halt the progression of the crisis but also to enhance adaptation measures and bolster support for communities that are least responsible for climate change yet most vulnerable to its impacts.