This document, released ahead of the UN Climate Conference (COP-30) in Brazil, highlights that 12 out of 20 key indicators tracking health threats related to global warming have reached record levels.
According to the data presented in the report, heat-related mortality has increased by 23 percent since the 1990s, averaging 546,000 cases per year. In 2024, every person on the planet was exposed to dangerous heat for an average of 16 days, while infants and the elderly suffered from it for more than 20 days.
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Due to droughts and wildfires, food insecurity is on the rise: in 2023, 124 million people faced food shortages. Economic losses from heat in 2024 amounted to $1.09 trillion.
Last year, governments allocated $956 billion to subsidize fossil fuels, three times more than the assistance provided to countries most vulnerable to climate risks. In 15 countries, such subsidies exceeded the entire budget of the healthcare system.
The report not only emphasizes the seriousness of the situation but also provides positive examples. The reduction of air pollution from coal power generation from 2010 to 2022 helped prevent 160,000 premature deaths annually. The share of renewable energy in the overall sector reached 12 percent, creating 16 million jobs. In 2024, two-thirds of medical students received education in climate and health.
In conclusion, it is emphasized that the transition to clean energy and healthy diets could save more than 10 million lives each year.
