It has been announced that the threats of rapidly changing global climate to human health have reached record levels. Last year, heat-related deaths among people over 65 increased by a record 167% compared to the levels of the 1990s.

The Lancet Countdown 2024 Report on Health and Climate Change, developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and including 122 leading experts from 57 academic institutions as well as United Nations (UN) organizations like the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), has been published. According to the report, global findings revealed that 10 out of 15 indicators tracking the threats of climate change on health have set new records.

INCREASE IN HEAT-RELATED DEATHS AMONG OVER 65s HITS RECORD LEVELS In 2023, the world set a new record year with persistent droughts, deadly heatwaves, and destructive forest fires, storms, and floods, leaving extraordinary impacts on people’s health, lives, and livelihoods. Last year, people were exposed to extreme heat temperatures 50 days more than necessary, while extreme drought affected 48% of global land areas. Heat-related deaths among people over 65 increased by a record 167% compared to the levels of the 1990s. People worldwide experienced record heat stress while engaging in light outdoor activities like walking or biking, with rising temperatures leading to a potential loss of 512 billion work hours. This loss represents a 49% increase over the 1990-1999 average and corresponds to an $835 billion economic impact.

OVER 5 MILLION DENGUE CASES REPORTED Over the past decade, there has been an increase in extreme rainfall events by 61% in 61% of global land areas compared to the 1961-1990 average, which has increased the risk of floods, infectious diseases, and water pollution. In parallel, more frequent heatwaves and droughts led to over 151 million people experiencing severe food insecurity in 124 countries in 2022. Consequently, the total annual economic losses from extreme weather events were estimated to reach $227 billion from 2019 to 2023. Due to rapidly changing climate conditions, the climatic suitability for the spread of deadly mosquito-borne infectious diseases increased. Last year, over 5 million dengue cases, the highest ever reported, were documented in more than 80 countries. The new and updated indicators in the report revealed that emissions had reached an all-time high due to persistent investments in fossil fuels by governments and companies, resulting in losses that reduce survival chances for people around the world.

Last year, carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector reached an all-time high with a 1.1% increase from 2022. IMPACTS IN TURKEY In Turkey, between 2014-2023, each infant and every adult over 65 were exposed to an average of 14.8 days and 13.7 days of heatwaves respectively per year. In 2023 alone, the same groups experienced 24.8 days and 21.9 days of heatwaves respectively. Last year, 471 million work hours were lost due to extreme heat exposure, which represents a 14% increase compared to the annual average of 1990-1999. The potential income loss stemming from reduced labor capacity due to temperature was estimated at $846 million. In each year from 2019 to 2023, 82.7% of the country’s land area experienced at least one month of extreme drought, 43.3% faced a minimum of three months, and 11.7% encountered at least six months of severe drought. “THIS YEAR’S INVENTORY REVEALED THE MOST ALARMING FINDINGS” Marina Romanello, the Lancet Countdown Executive Director, warned in her evaluation of the report that this year’s inventory of threats posed by climate inaction to health had revealed the most alarming findings in the eight-year monitoring process. Romanello emphasized that extreme heatwaves, deadly weather events, and devastating forest fires had broken records in the effects of climate change, stating that “No individual or economy on Earth is immune to the health threats of climate change. The relentless expansion of fossil fuels and record-high greenhouse gas emissions are exacerbating these dangerous health effects, reversing the limited progress made so far and making a healthy future even more unattainable.” Romanello highlighted. “HEALTH SHOULD BE PLACED AHEAD OF CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY” Despite this threat, Romanello pointed out that financial resources continue to be diverted to fossil fuels, saying, “Reallocating the trillions of dollars invested in or subsidized to the fossil fuel industry every year will provide an opportunity for a clean energy and energy efficiency transition that is fair, equitable, and that will ultimately benefit the global economy.” Lancet Countdown Co-Chair Anthony Costello also emphasized the need for a global shift in resources from a fossil fuel-based economy to a zero-emission future and noted that a successful reform requires placing health at the forefront and center of climate change policy, ensuring that financial mechanisms protect well-being, reduce health inequalities, and maximize health gains for the most vulnerable countries and communities.