Six climate measures could save 1.6 million lives annually
WHO says six climate measures could save 1.6 million lives annually while cutting emissions and delivering trillions in benefits
Governments could prevent 1.6 million deaths annually and generate trillions of dollars in economic benefits by implementing six proven measures to tackle the health consequences of climate change, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report.
Published ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, the assessment estimates that scaling up interventions could deliver $3.9 trillion (€3.46 trillion) in annual economic welfare benefits and $5.4 trillion (€4.8 trillion) in fiscal gains, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 31%.
The six actions are: heat-health warning systems; climate-resilient drinking-water services; basic sanitation services; hygiene and handwashing facilities; cleaner household fuels and technologies for cooking and heating; and efficient fossil fuel pricing policies.
“This report shows that scaling up proven, affordable actions could save millions of lives, with the greatest gains in the countries that need them most. As governments prepare for the next round of climate negotiations, protecting health must be at the centre of climate action,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
WHO economist Dr Frank Pega said every dollar invested across six proven interventions could generate $24 (€21) in benefits. Heat-health warning systems offered particularly impressive returns, generating an estimated $835 per dollar invested.
“Climate health actions are not only clearly the right thing to do, but they're a smart economic choice,” he said. WHO estimates that heat-health warning systems, combining disease surveillance with public alerts, could be established within five years.
WHO’s Head of Climate, Dr Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, estimates that efficient fossil fuel pricing alone could prevent 1.2 million deaths annually, while generating $5.4 trillion (€4.8 trillion) in fiscal benefits.
Campbell-Lendrum said the transition to cleaner energy sources would bring a wide range of benefits, most immediately by reducing air pollution, which takes almost 7 million lives every year worldwide.
“We're encouraging countries to accelerate their transition to clean energy, not only because it's the action that is necessary to address the climate crisis, but also because it will bring huge health gains.”
Investment in climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services could prevent infectious diseases when floods, droughts and storms disrupt essential infrastructure.
The organisation is urging governments attending COP31 to integrate health into emissions commitments, adaptation strategies and climate finance, particularly for vulnerable developing countries.
Asked by Vital Signs which countries provided examples of best practice in health-focused climate adaptation, WHO climate and health chief Dr Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum highlighted Fiji, Colombia, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Fiji had strengthened healthcare facilities against climate risks, including through solar power, while Colombia and Pakistan had assessed the potential health benefits of accelerating their transition to cleaner energy. He said England's National Health Service had also committed to reducing healthcare emissions.
“We see positive examples from around the world, and again across the income spectrum,” Campbell-Lendrum said.
He stressed that these were practical measures already delivering benefits, rather than theoretical solutions.
“We already know there are many things that we can do about this problem, and we know that there are very good returns on investment.”