Study: Worsening global warming has increased the death rate by 23% Environment and climate

A new study reveals that over-reliance on fossil fuels and increasing rates of global warming Failure to adapt to climate change is costing humanity lives, health and livelihoods, with 12 out of 20 health risk indicators recording unprecedented levels.

And she confirms the study The analysis published in the journal “Lancet” found that the failure to curb the effects of global warming led to a rise in the rate of heat-related deaths by 23% since the 1990s, reaching 546 thousand deaths annually.

In 2024 alone, air pollution from wildfire smoke was linked to 154,000 deaths, while the global spread of dengue fever has increased by up to 49% since the 1950s.

According to the report, 2.5 million deaths annually are attributed to air pollution resulting from the continued burning of fossil fuels, which also puts pressure on national budgets, as governments together spent $956 billion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2023.

Meanwhile, major oil and gas companies continue to expand their fossil fuel production plans at a rate beyond the planet’s capacity to sustain.

The study reported that the 100 largest fossil fuel companies in the world increased their expected production during the year ending in March 2025, which will lead to carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 3 times, which is consistent with the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial revolution levels.

Despite some government retreat from climate commitments, the report reveals the positive impact of saving lives as a result of the transition away from coal, as the number of lives saved annually is estimated at 160,000, while renewable energy has reached record levels.

Dr. Marina Romaniello, Executive Director of the Bulletin, warned:Don’t forget to Countdown on health and climate change“The devastating health impacts extend to all parts of the world, with record threats from fires and extreme heat, which will continue to escalate unless dependence on fossil fuels ends and we strengthen adaptive capabilities.

She added, “Solutions are already available to avoid climate catastrophe. Progress is possible, as shown by cities and communities around the world. The transition to clean energy and the shift to more sustainable food systems could save more than 10 million lives annually.”

Exacerbating losses

According to the report, the average person was exposed to 19 days of extreme, life-threatening heat annually during the past four years, 16 of which would not have occurred without global warming caused by human activities, according to the study.

Overall, exposure to high temperatures led to a record loss of 639 billion working hours by 2024, causing losses of 6% of GDP in least developed countries.

Drought and fires also increased the number of people suffering from moderate or severe food insecurity by 123 million people in 2023 compared to the annual average for the period from 1981 to 2010.

Due to the delay in adopting clean energy, the report indicates that more than two billion people still depend on polluting and unstable fuels in their homes, according to the study.

Dr. Romaniello emphasizes that making renewable and clean energy available provides an opportunity to increase local energy production, reduce the harm of fossil fuels to health, and redirect financial support towards a healthy future.

The report also notes that political retreat from climate commitments will increase risks to health, while major fossil fuel companies boost their production, which could lead to a three-fold increase in greenhouse gas emissions in line with the 1.5°C target by 2040, and complicate health adaptation efforts.

Commercial banks are also supporting this expansion, with the top 40 lenders to the fossil fuel sector collectively investing $611 billion in 2024, a 5-year high, and their loans to the green sector falling to $532 billion.

However, the report indicates positive momentum, as moving away from coal, especially in rich countries, has prevented about 160,000 premature deaths annually, while the contribution of modern renewable energy from electricity reached a record level of 12% in 2022, and the number of workers in this sector rose to more than 16 million people globally in 2023.