The changes in climate are threatening global health, says a report

A report by a leading medical publication has found that climate change is severely impacting the health of people around the world.

According to the Lancet Countdown report, the continued reliance on fossil fuels in the world increases the risk of infectious disease, heat-related illness and food insecurity. António Guterres, UN Secretary General, responded and said that global leaders must match action to the problem. Leaders are meeting in Egypt next month for the major climate conference, COP27.

The report includes the work of 99 experts from different organizations. It was led by University College London, and the World Health Organization (WHO) was also a part of it. The report describes how extreme weather conditions have increased pressure on global health services, which are already grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report found that, over the last two decades, heat-related deaths have increased by two thirds globally. In 2022, temperature records have been broken around the world. This year, in the UK, the temperature rose to 40C in July, and it was the same in Pakistan and China as well. Extreme heat can cause exacerbating conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular disease, poor mental health, and heat stroke.