Heat, drought, and disease: climate warming takes a heavy toll on health

Extreme heat causes an average of 540,000 deaths annually, according to the Lancet Countdown report. The number of heat-related deaths has significantly increased since the Paris Agreement. Without greenhouse gas emissions, hundreds of thousands of lives could be saved each year. Air conditioning, while lifesaving, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, creating a dilemma. Economic losses from heat exceed $1 trillion annually, particularly affecting Southeast Asia and Africa. Climate change also exacerbates drought and the spread of diseases like dengue. Despite the challenges, some countries are developing plans to address health impacts from climate change, and renewable energy is reducing air pollution deaths. However, progress is deemed too slow, prompting calls for climate change to be recognized as a global health emergency.