Global temperature rise is currently causing one death per minute worldwide, according to a comprehensive report on the impact of climate change on health.
A study conducted by University College London (UCL) reveals that the world’s dependence on fossil fuels not only leads to toxic air pollution but also vegetation fires and the spread of diseases such as dengue fever. Millions of people die annually due to global leaders’ failure to limit planetary warming, as highlighted by The Guardian.
Large subsidies for the industry, huge losses for people
The two authors of the study found that in 2023, governments granted direct subsidies to fossil fuel companies worth $2.5 billion per day.
At the same time, people lost similar amounts due to heatwaves that hindered their work in agriculture and construction.
Although reducing coal use has saved about 400 lives per day in the past decade, experts warn that a healthy future is impossible if fossil fuel funding continues at the current pace.
A bleak and undisputed picture
"The report provides a bleak and indisputable picture of the damage caused to human health globally. The devastation of lives and livelihoods will continue to escalate until we end our dependence on fossil fuels," said Dr. Marina Romanello, the study's coordinator at University College London.
She added, "Millions of deaths occur unnecessarily each year due to delays in reducing emissions and adapting to inevitable climate change." The specialist accuses leaders and corporations that "abandon climate commitments and increasingly endanger people."
One death per minute caused by heat
The heat-related death rate has increased by 23% since the 1990s, reaching an average of 546,000 deaths per year between 2012 and 2021.
"It's about one heat-related death every minute. It's a staggering number - and it's rising," expressed Professor Ollie Jay from the University of Sydney, voicing his concern.
He emphasized that heat stress "can affect anyone and can be fatal," adding that "every heat-related death could be prevented."
"We are living in the era of climate consequences. Heatwaves, floods, droughts, and diseases are no longer distant warnings - they are present realities. But as science, climate litigation, and civic activism intensify, accountability for these effects is no longer a matter of if, but when," believes Laura Clarke, CEO of ClientEarth.
Exposure to Extreme Heat at Record Levels
The 2025 edition of The Lancet Report on Health and Climate Change, coordinated by UCL in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and 128 experts from over 70 institutions, shows that in the last four years, each person has been exposed on average to 19 days of lethal heat annually - 16 of which would not have existed without human-caused global warming.
In 2024, high-temperature exposure led to 639 billion hours of lost work, equivalent to 6% of the GDP of the least developed countries.
The climate crisis has intensified heatwaves, fires, and droughts. Last year, 154,000 people died due to smoke from vegetation fires, a historic record. Additionally, 123 million people faced food insecurity in 2023, compared to the annual average from 1981-2010.
Despite these effects, in 2023, governments granted direct subsidies of $956 billion for fossil fuels - more than the $300 billion promised at the UN COP29 summit to support climate-vulnerable countries.
Major Economies Among the Main Polluters' Supporters
The UK provided $28 billion in subsidies in 2023, while Australia - $11 billion. Fifteen states, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Venezuela, and Algeria, spent more on fossil fuels than on their own health budgets.
The world's top 100 oil companies increased their estimated production by March 2025, leading to emissions three times higher than the limit compatible with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
Concurrently, the 40 major commercial banks invested $611 billion in the fossil fuel sector in 2024 - a five-year high - compared to $532 billion in green energy.
"A Healthy Future Is Not Possible If We Fund Oil and Gas"
"If we continue to fund and expand fossil fuels, a healthy future is not possible," warned Dr. Romanello.
She stressed that solutions to avoid a climate catastrophe already exist - from clean energy and urban adaptation to healthier and environmentally friendly diets.
"If there is a reason for optimism, it comes from local communities, authorities, and the healthcare sector - those who witness the effects firsthand and act because the reality has become undeniable. But we must maintain this momentum," said the researcher.
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