Why COP30 is talking health 🏥🌍
At COP30 this November, one big question popped up: is climate change a health crisis? Spoiler: the answer’s a loud yes. The 2025 Lancet Countdown report just dropped, and it’s painting a pretty alarming picture. 😱
By the numbers 📊
Over the past year, 12 of 20 key health risk indicators hit record highs. We’re seeing more heatwaves, floods, and storms—so more injuries, hospital visits, and sadly, more fatalities.
Heat’s hidden toll 🔥
Hotter days have pushed heat-related deaths up by 63% since the 1990s. From 2012 to 2021, an average 546,000 people died each year—that’s one person every minute due to extreme heat. It hits hard in hotspots like Delhi or Bangkok, where outdoor workers and older folks are extra vulnerable.
Disease on the rise 🦟
As temperatures climb, mosquitoes thrive. Their habitats are expanding, raising the risk of malaria and dengue across South and Southeast Asia.
What’s the fix?
The report pins the blame on our fossil fuel dependence and slow adaptation efforts. Switching to clean energy, boosting healthcare access, and building heat-resilient cities are game-changers we need ASAP.
Bottom line: climate change isn’t just about melting ice or wildfires. It’s a health emergency that needs urgent action from governments, businesses, and all of us. 💪🌱
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
