The 2024 Report of Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change!
The new Lancet Report stands out as one of the most credible and alarming assessments of the state of the globe in 2024, highlighting the severe impacts of climate change. The 2024 Lancet Countdown report on health and climate change emphasizes the growing threats that climate change poses to human health. It reveals that individuals are experiencing unprecedented risks due to delayed action on climate issues. Key findings indicate an increase in heat-related deaths, food insecurity, and the spread of infectious diseases. Here are some key quotes that should raise significant concern among all of us. To begin with, the world is dangerously close to exceeding its target of limiting the average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Remember, the further we exceed the 1.5-degree threshold, the greater the likelihood that the changes will become irreversible—a scenario we must avoid. Such shifts could fundamentally alter our entire way of life. Earlier this year, the annual mean surface temperature soared to a record high of 1.45 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial baseline for 2023, with new temperature extremes recorded throughout 2024. This underscores the severity of the situation. The 2024 Lancet Countdown report, drawing on the expertise of 122 leading researchers from UN agencies and academic institutions around the world, presents some of the most alarming findings in the collaboration’s eight years of monitoring. One major concern that has emerged is the record-breaking 167% increase in heat-related mortality among people over 65 years of age compared to the 1990s. Another critical factor is that 151 million people are experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity. Additionally, 48% of land has endured at least one month of extreme drought. The key point about heat exposure is crucial. Firstly, heat exposure is increasingly impacting physical activity and sleep quality, which in turn affects both physical and mental health. In 2023, there was a record 6% increase in hours of sleep lost compared to the average between 1986 and 2005. Heat not only affects physical activity but also significantly impacts sleep, both of which have been severely affected. Hot and dry weather conditions are increasingly facilitating the occurrence of sand and dust storms. This environmental phenomenon has contributed to a 31% increase in the number of people exposed to dangerously high levels of particulate matter concentrations between 2003– 2007 and 2018–2022. The average annual economic losses from weather-related extreme events increased by 23% from 2010-2014 to 2019-2023, totaling $227 billion. This amount surpasses the gross domestic product of approximately 60% of the world’s economies. The issue of dangerously high concentrations of particulate matter is crucial. One contributing factor is the burning of polluting biomass, such as wood and cow dung, which still accounts for 92% of the energy used in homes by people in countries with low human development indexes. Additionally, in parts of North India, the frequent occurrence of sand and dust storms further exacerbates this alarming situation. “We are witnessing the effects of climate change as outlined in the report. The significant impact it is already having on people’s lives around the world is evident. Once we exceed the 1.5-degree mark, we must carefully consider the implications. It is crucial to minimize how much the temperature surpasses that threshold, as even a small increase can make a significant difference in people’s lives and health. Therefore, we need to take action to limit temperature rise,” stated one of the report’s authors. The latest research on the recent intense heat in much of India reveals a concerning trend: night-time temperatures are not dropping as they should. Traditionally, cities would cool down at night, but now, the lack of cooling has serious implications for mortality and well-being, as our bodies need time to cool off. This rise in night-time temperatures is partly due to urbanization, with increasing concrete structures and vehicles leading to more fossil fuel burning and elevated temperatures. Furthermore, the Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment. 11/7/24, 4:53 PM The 2024 Report of Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change! - Mahabahu.com https://mahabahu.com/the-2024-report-of-lancet-countdown-on-health-and-climate-change/ 4/9 demand for air conditioning to combat rising heat contributes to this cycle, as these cooling devices further heat our cities,” stated Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment.