A global report published today (Wednesday, October 30) has highlighted that health risks due to climate change are being “exacerbated” by continued investment in fossil fuels and lagging funding for action to protect health.

The ‘Lancet Countdown 2024 Report on Health and Climate Change‘, marks the eighth annual indicator, published ahead of the 29th UN Conference of the Parties (COP).

The only Irish author of the report is an academic at University of Galway, Karyn Morrissey, Professor in Environment and Marine, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics and Ryan Institute.

The report reflects on 2023, showing that people were exposed to, on average, an unprecedented 50 more days of health threatening temperatures than expected without climate change.

Extreme drought affected 48% of the global land area – the second-highest level recorded – and the higher frequency of heatwaves and droughts was associated with 151 million more people.

Fossil fuels

The report highlighted that governments and companies are “fuelling the fire” with persistent investment in fossil fuels, all-time high energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, and years of delays in adaptation that are narrowing the survival chances of people across the globe.

The Lancet Countdown stated that the financial resources to deliver net zero emissions and secure a healthy future are available.

However, it added that governments and companies are spending trillions of dollars on fossil fuel subsidies and investments that are making climate change “worse”.

The report recommends that this money could be redirected towards clean renewable energy and activities that benefit people’s health, livelihoods and wellbeing.

It highlighted that there are new opportunities that could put health at the centre of the world’s response to climate change, including at the upcoming United Nations Climate Summit, COP29 ‘finance COP’ in Azerbaijan.

University of Galway

Negotiations will take place at COP29 on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for increasing climate finance.

University of Galway, Dr. Morrissey said that the findings for Ireland showed increased rainfall and flooding, directly impacting critical infrastructure and key sectors, such as agriculture.

“At the same time, years of delays in adaptation, alongside new records in fossil fuel emissions and investments in fossil fuel sectors means that we are now dangerously close to breaching the Paris Agreements target of limiting global multi-year mean heating to 1.5 degrees.

Professor in Environment and Marine, Karen Morrissey. Image source: University of Galway

“Alongside the cost-of-living crisis, and the on-going impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic we are systematically undoing the phenomenal public health progress we made during the 20th Century, which saw life expectancy in Ireland increasing from 66 to 82 years.

We need to appreciate that health progress is not a given, and that without concrete actions backed by financial and regulatory resources we are jeopardising our own future,” Dr. Morrissey said.

Dr. Morrissey’s work at University of Galway focuses on the impact of climate change and the environment and the impact it will have on human health and the economy.

The Lancet Countdown represents the consensus of 122 authors across 57 academic institutions and UN agencies.