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A continued over-reliance on fossil fuel will exacerbate the effects of climate change and harm population health, according to a new report by The Lancet.
Authors of the 2022 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change say that a global dependence on fossil fuels has left household vulnerable to volatile fuel markets, and exposed to energy poverty and dangerous levels of air pollution.
Until there is a global shift to clean energy and energy efficiency, we will see the population’s health suffer as a result.
Renewed dependence on fossil fuels could lead to fatally warmer temperatures
The report found that ongoing crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and a global energy and cost of living crisis, have caused countries to become over reliant on fossil fuels.
The researchers believed that this ‘renewed dependence’ could lead to fatally warmer temperatures in the future, increasing the risk of food insecurity, infectious disease transmission, and heat-related diseases, such as heat stroke and poor mental health.
Temperature records were broken around the world in 2022, and global heat-related deaths have already increased by two thirds over the last two decades.
A shift towards clean energy will protect the population’s health
Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown, Dr Marina Romanello (UCL Institute for Global Health), says that while global fossil fuel dependence has compounded these health harms, immediate changes may be able to alleviate the situation.
She said: “Despite the challenges, there is clear evidence that immediate action could still save the lives of millions, with a rapid shift to clean energy and energy efficiency.
“Accelerated climate action would deliver cascading benefits, with more resilient health, food, and energy systems.
“With the world in turmoil, governments and companies have the opportunity to put health at the centre of an aligned response to these concurrent crises, and deliver a healthy, safe future for all.”
“We must change, otherwise our children face a future of accelerated climate change, threatening their very survival”
Countries around the world are now being encourage to choose a health-centred response to crises to prevent further increases in climate change-related death and disease, and deliver paid health benefits through improved energy access and security, cleaner air, healthier diets and lifestyles, and more liveable cities.
The report also recommends that energy companies rapidly shift towards clean fuels, that there is a quick acceleration to more balanced and plant-based diets, and that cities and towns are redesigned to that urban heat is reduced.
Co-chair of the Lancet Countdown, Professor Anthony Costello (UCL Institute for Global Health), said: “We must change, otherwise our children face a future of accelerated climate change, threatening their very survival.
“A health-centred response to the current crises would still provide the opportunity to deliver a low-carbon, resilient, healthy future, where people all over the world can not only survive but thrive. There is still time to realise this future if we act now.”