Climate Change: A Global Health Crisis with Urgent Implications for Pakistan
The Health Toll of Climate Change
The 2025 Lancet Countdown Report, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), highlights the devastating health impacts of climate change across the globe. According to the report, climate inaction is already costing millions of lives and overburdening healthcare systems worldwide.
Heat-related deaths have risen by 23% since the 1990s, with over 546,000 lives lost annually due to extreme heat. In 2024 alone, the average person experienced 16 days of dangerous heat that would not have occurred without climate change.
Infants and older adults — two of the most vulnerable groups — are facing a fourfold increase in exposure to extreme heat over the past two decades.
Food Insecurity and Environmental Stress
Beyond heat-related illness, droughts and wildfires continue to threaten global nutrition. The report reveals that 124 million people experienced moderate to severe food insecurity in 2023.
For Pakistan, where millions rely on agriculture for livelihood and sustenance, such changes directly affect both food security and public health. Malnutrition, dehydration, and respiratory conditions are becoming more prevalent as rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns continue to disrupt daily life.
Economic Losses and the Cost of Inaction
The economic burden of climate change is staggering. In 2024, 640 billion labor hours were lost due to heat exposure, translating into US$ 1.09 trillion in productivity losses. Meanwhile, heat-related deaths among older adults cost the global economy US$ 261 billion.
Despite these growing losses, many governments continue to prioritize fossil fuel subsidies, sometimes allocating more funds to fossil fuels than to healthcare. This imbalance hinders progress in building climate-resilient health systems — a gap countries like Pakistan can no longer afford to ignore.
Climate Action: The Health Opportunity of Our Time
While the data is alarming, the report also highlights hope. Climate action is described as the greatest health opportunity of the century. Transitioning to renewable energy could save over 10 million lives each year by reducing air pollution and preventing chronic diseases.
Similarly, shifting to sustainable, climate-friendly diets and agricultural systems can lower emissions, improve nutrition, and reduce the burden on healthcare systems globally — including in Pakistan.
Local Progress and Global Momentum
The report notes that 95% of cities worldwide have completed or are developing climate risk assessments, reflecting growing awareness and preparedness.
In Pakistan, healthcare institutions, policymakers, and communities are beginning to take steps toward climate adaptation — from improving heatwave response plans to promoting renewable energy use in hospitals. These efforts represent crucial steps toward a healthier, more sustainable future.
Looking Ahead: Health at the Heart of Climate Policy
As the world prepares for COP30, the Lancet Countdown report calls for urgent global action that places healthcare and climate change at the center of all policy decisions.
For Pakistan, this means investing in climate-resilient healthcare, strengthening public health infrastructure, and addressing inequalities that leave vulnerable populations at greater risk.
Protecting health through climate action isn’t just necessary — it’s our collective responsibility.
Reference: Medical News Pakistan - Climate Crisis & Health Crisis (Lancet Countdown Report)
