Published on: 2026-10-28
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 28, 2026 Healthcare
According to new estimates, in 2023, 710,000 people worldwide died due to heat exposure. For the first time, more than 70 percent of such deaths are linked to climate change caused by human activity. This is stated in the Lancet Countdown report, prepared by researchers from more than 100 institutions under the leadership of University College London in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the report, in the years following the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the average annual number of heat-related deaths increased by nearly 36 percent compared to the previous decade. The authors also note an intensification of droughts, an increase in the impact of water-related extreme events, and significant economic losses. It is estimated that 573 billion potential working hours were lost due to heat in 2025. The damage is estimated at $1.07 trillion.
Worrying trends
The report also indicates that too little is being done to curb climate change. The world’s top 100 oil and gas companies plan to produce 150 percent more fossil fuels by 2040 than is allowable to keep warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. A year earlier, this figure was 138 percent.
According to the authors, these and other alarming data indicate that climate change must be officially recognized as a global public health emergency. This should help strengthen measures to combat climate change ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-31) in Antalya, Turkey. Among the priorities for action are accelerating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, expanding support for adaptation, and increasing investments in the resilience of health systems.
Clean energy saves lives
Investments in clean energy and measures to combat climate change are beginning to bring health benefits, the report notes. In 70 countries where pollution linked to fossil fuel combustion has decreased, it’s estimated that 323,000 deaths are prevented annually.
Last year, global investments in clean energy reached a record $2.1 trillion. In 2024, the number of jobs in this sector grew by 2.3 percent.
The resilience of healthcare systems to climate change is also growing: more and more countries are adopting national adaptation plans in the health sector and implementing early warning systems based on climate data. Since 2000, the number of climate and health laws has increased approximately 50-fold, with most of them adopted after 2016.
WHO Support
To reduce health risks associated with climate change, WHO conducts epidemiological surveillance, helps countries develop early warning systems and plan measures for adapting health services, as well as provides technical guidance and deploys specialists for emergency response.
Since September, the organization has been preparing measures to combat the effects of the El Niño phenomenon. For this purpose, a global incident management group has been created, which involves experts, collects data, and assists the most vulnerable countries.
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