The ‘Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change’ report spells out the impacts of climate change on public health in Europe
22/05/2024
The document – with input from 69 scientists and which uses 42 indicators – warns that "unprecedented warming demands unprecedented action".
The report highlights the inequalities caused by climate change: mortality twice as high in women, greater food insecurity in low-income households, and more wildfires in deprived areas.
The 2024 ‘Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change’ report spells out the impacts of climate change on public health in Europe. The document published in The Lancet Public Health journal, with input from 69 scientists and which uses 42 indicators, warns that – without additional measures – the negative consequences will increase considerably and that "unprecedented warming demands unprecedented action".
The reports warns that Europe is experiencing a higher-than-average rise in temperatures, which intensifies adverse climate-related health impacts. Several specific threats are identified, such as the increase in infectious diseases (for example, dengue and West Nile virus), greater exposure to extreme heat, and detrimental health impacts due to natural disasters and abrupt climate changes.
Furthermore, the report highlights the importance of taking resilience and adaptation measures. Accordingly, it calls for the implementation of nature-based solutions, such as wetland and forest conservation and the creation of urban green areas. These measures not only help climate adaptation and to reduce risks – such as heat waves and flooding – but also carbon capture.
Climate justice and health inequalities
Furthermore, the document considers the inequalities caused by the impacts of climate change; it stresses the need for climate action policies to address existing equalities – between and within countries – by ensuring a just environmental transition that protects the most vulnerable communities.
According to the data in the report, heat-related mortality was twice as high in women compared with men, low-income households had a substantially higher probability of people experiencing food insecurity, deaths attributable to an imbalanced diet were higher among women, and exposure to wildfire was higher in highly deprived areas.
The report also stresses that Europe must recognise its role in climate crisis and assume global responsibility, by supporting the most affected communities.
This report is part of a multidisciplinary global collaboration between research institutions and United Nations organisations, which has been annually assessing the relationship between climate and public health since 2017. On 23 May 2024, the document was presented at Heidelberg University, where researchers, public health experts and organisation representatives were present.
