United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a call to action in response to the devastating impacts of rising global temperatures. His statement emphasizes the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations, safeguard workers, enhance resilience through data and science, and limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C.
The climate crisis is driving temperatures to dangerous levels worldwide, resulting in heat-related deaths, illnesses, and overwhelming health systems. Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities, with an estimated 489,000 heat-related deaths occurring annually between 2000 and 2019.
“Extreme heat is the most visible effect of climate change; everyone is affected,” stated Dr. Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Health at the World Health Organization (WHO). “Those with existing health conditions are severely impacted, and heat affects everyone’s health in often unexpected ways, including mental health issues like confusion, anxiety, and violence.”
Prolonged exposure to excessive heat can exacerbate underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health disorders, asthma, and kidney disease. It also increases the risk of accidents, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and the spread of certain infectious diseases. Untreated heat stress can escalate to heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition.
However, heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable through evidence-based actions and tools. Public awareness campaigns, heat-ready social protection and health systems, and heat-health warning systems can significantly mitigate the health impacts of extreme heat. Urban planning that incorporates nature-based solutions can also reduce excessive urban heat.
A WHO report estimates that the global implementation of heat-health warning systems in 57 countries could save nearly 100,000 lives annually. The WHO co-sponsors the Global Heat Health Information Network, which unites UN agencies, governments, experts, and civil society to share knowledge and scale solutions to protect communities from extreme heat worldwide.
