Climate change is a defining threat to health worldwide. The United Nations repeatedly emphasizes that rising temperatures intensify the spread of infectious diseases, worsen respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, trigger mental health challenges, and heighten food insecurity. Heat-related deaths are climbing, with Spain among the hardest hit in Europe. A broad coalition of researchers produced this year’s Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, highlighting the urgent need for action to protect public health.
The Lancet Countdown paints a clear trajectory: more fires, more droughts, and more extreme weather events each year, while the reach of infectious diseases grows. Data show, for example, that the probability of dengue infection has risen by about 12 percent since the mid-20th century, and dengue incidence has increased roughly eightfold in the last twenty years. Over the past five years, cases have been documented in parts of Spain and France, underscoring the new normal of climate-linked disease in Europe. In Southern Europe, West Nile virus risk increased by nearly 149 percent between 1986 and 2020, with Europe-wide increases outpacing earlier periods.
The report repeatedly stresses accountability. Fossil fuel dependence is linked directly to worsened health outcomes amid climate crises, and the responsibility rests with governments and corporations that continue to favor fossil energy over cleaner alternatives. People around the world are increasingly feeling climate-related health impacts, while policymakers and businesses often prioritize fossil fuel interests, the researchers state.
Multi‑million dollar losses
The data are sobering. Extreme droughts affected 29 percent of the Earth’s surface from 2012 to 2021, a larger share than in the previous six decades, and fire danger rose by about 61 percent compared with two decades ago. Extreme heat waves in 2020 pushed food insecurity to an additional 98 million people beyond the 1981–2000 average. Vulnerable groups, including the young and those aged 65 and older, experienced 3.7 billion more heatwave days in 2021 than in the 1986–2005 period. The economic toll is equally stark: exposure to heat led to an estimated loss of 470 billion working hours globally in 2021, with revenue losses around 670 billion euros. Regions such as the Balearic Islands, southern Greece, and Cyprus saw the most pronounced impacts on labor productivity due to heat exposure.
Meanwhile, delayed transition to clean energy continues to affect households. Clean energy accounted for a small share of the world’s energy mix, while many families faced rising prices tied to more polluting energy sources and related health damages. Pollution from fossil fuels is linked to hazardous air quality in numerous places, and the underlying data trace the emissions and energy use that drive these health risks.
Global progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions appears insufficient. The carbon intensity of the worldwide energy system has barely decreased since 1992, even as overall energy consumption climbs and CO2 emissions related to energy reach new highs. This pattern underscores the gap between commitments and real-world action.
Governments and subsidies
The Lancet Countdown notes substantial, ongoing subsidies for fossil fuels, often surpassing healthcare budgets in scale. While some wealthier countries have pledged funds to support a just energy transition, actual investments lag far behind these promises. The authors argue that underfunding undermines the shift toward a low‑carbon, climate‑resilient future and call for urgent, decisive measures.
The report also critiques the role of large fossil fuel corporations. If these entities push plans that exceed Paris Agreement targets, they risk locking the world into a dangerously warmer trajectory with serious health consequences. Profits may rise in the short term, but the long-term health costs would be far greater, the authors warn.
Ultimately, the signatories advocate a health-centered response to climate challenges. They acknowledge that turning the tide requires difficult, urgent actions and a sustained effort to put health at the forefront of climate policy.
Experts argue that moving away from fossil fuels would prevent a large number of deaths linked to air pollution. Transitioning to cleaner energy could improve resilience in energy networks and reduce energy poverty. Urban design that prioritizes green spaces and healthier living environments, along with plant‑forward dietary shifts, are cited as strategies to boost both climate resilience and public health.
Paths to hope
Despite the troubling data, the report also highlights reasons for cautious optimism. Clean energy generation reached record levels in 2020, and investments in low‑carbon electricity surged in 2021, with zero‑carbon sources contributing a substantial share. Public engagement around climate and health has risen, and coverage of climate-related health issues in the media continues to grow. Still, real progress depends on steady, credible commitments from world leaders and practical implementation on the ground.
Europe, including Spain, shows both the challenge and the potential. Spain faces some of the highest heat-related mortality rates in Europe, a trend mirrored in other parts of North America and the Mediterranean. The Lancet Countdown emphasizes that cross‑border cooperation on climate action is essential, alongside national policies that align with health outcomes and reduce vulnerability to heat, drought, and vector-borne diseases.
In summary, the Lancet Countdown presents a clear message: urgent, health-centered action is needed now to avoid a future in which climate-related illness, economic strain, and social inequities deepen. A concerted effort to cut emissions, expand clean energy, and invest in climate-resilient health systems could help protect populations and improve well‑being for decades to come. The report’s authors call for sustained momentum and tangible policy choices that prioritize health in every climate decision.Reflecting on these findings, one can recognize the shared responsibility to safeguard communities against a warming world, and the essential steps required to move toward a healthier, more resilient future. (Lancet Countdown, 2023)