Health experts are emphasizing the urgent need to eliminate the use of fossil fuels as a recent report, compiled by over 100 scientists and health practitioners, reveals a surge in climate-related deaths. The annual Lancet Countdown report, unveiled on Tuesday, predicts a nearly five-fold increase in heat-related fatalities by 2050 if decisive steps to curtail fossil fuel usage are not taken promptly. The report underscores the profound impact of fossil fuels on global health, pointing out that governments, banks, and corporations are persistently allowing the expansion of fossil fuel use, exacerbating health risks.
Marina Romanello, the executive director and lead author of Lancet Countdown, expressed concern over the contradictory direction in which the world is moving. She highlighted the expansion of private oil and gas production, increased financing in the fossil fuel sector, and the overall promotion of activities that jeopardize global well-being. Romanello stressed that mortality is just one facet of the extensive challenges posed by rising temperatures, emphasizing the potential catastrophic consequences for both human health and the economy if the current reliance on fossil fuels persists.
With the planet already experiencing a temperature increase of approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius since the late 1800s, the report warns that a 2-degree rise could result in a 50% increase in labor capacity loss due to extreme heat, leading to significant economic and livelihood losses. Additionally, the report forecasts that over half a billion more people will face food insecurity by mid-century if global warming reaches 2 degrees.
The report advocates urgent efforts to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees, emphasizing the significance of every fraction of a degree in temperature increase. It cites the alarming impacts witnessed during Europe’s hottest summer in 2022, where nearly 62,000 people succumbed to heat-related causes. The trend persisted in subsequent years, with the U.S. experiencing its deadliest year for heat-related deaths in 2023.
The escalating heat-related fatalities, particularly in the U.S., where deaths doubled over the past five years, highlight the severity of the issue. Experts, such as Rachel Licker, principal climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, stress that urgent action is imperative to address the health risks posed by climate change, especially for vulnerable populations.
The report concludes that many heat-related deaths could have been prevented with less warming. It calls for a swift transition to a net-zero global economy by discontinuing the burning of fossil fuels to prevent irreversible harm. The release of this report precedes the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, where leaders will discuss strategies to protect public health in the face of a changing climate and negotiate the phased elimination of fossil fuels in the coming years.
Romanello emphasizes that the expansion of oil and gas undermines health, well-being, and the collective future, asserting the need for a resolute call to phase out fossil fuels. The health argument, she believes, will play a crucial role in discussions at the COP28 summit.
