Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organisation has warned that escalating climate inaction is now driving a global health emergency, as rising heatwaves, air pollution, and food insecurity continue to claim millions of lives each year.
The warning is contained in the 2025 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report, released Wednesday in collaboration with WHO.
The report shows that 12 of the world’s 20 major climate-related health risk indicators have reached their highest levels on record.
“The climate crisis is a health crisis,” said WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care, Dr Jeremy Farrar. “Every fraction of a degree of warming costs lives and livelihoods. We have solutions, but we need political courage to act.”
According to the report, heat-related deaths have risen by 23% since the 1990s, averaging more than 546,000 annually.
Extreme heat has also triggered the loss of 640 billion labour hours in 2024 — equivalent to US$1.09 trillion in productivity. Meanwhile, drought and heat exposure have pushed an estimated 124 million people into food insecurity.
Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown, Dr Marina Romanello, said transitioning away from fossil fuels presents “the greatest health opportunity of our lifetime,” noting that improved air quality from reduced coal use already prevents 160,000 premature deaths annually.
WHO says its forthcoming Special Report on Climate Change and Health, to be launched ahead of COP30 in Brazil, will outline “urgent, actionable pathways” for governments.
“We have the evidence and the tools,” Farrar said. “What is needed now is the will to protect human health.”
About the Author
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Koko Maxwella 