The 2024 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Released | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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The 2024 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Released

Posted 30 Oct 2024

2 min read

The annual report provides an independent assessment of progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement

Key findings 

  • Increased in Temperature: Annual mean surface temperature reached 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels in 2023, close to breaching the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement.
  • Health Impacts: Heat-related mortality among people over 65 rose by 167% since the 1990s. It also affects physical activity, sleep quality etc.
    • Indians faced moderate to serious risk of heat stress for 100 days/year, amounting to 2,400 hours of heat (2023)
  • Economic Losses: The average annual economic losses from weather-related extreme events increased by 23% from 2010–14 to 2019–23, to US$227 billion.
    • 181 billion potential labour hours were lost due to heat exposure in 2023 in India
  • Inadequate Adaptation: Many countries lack sufficient health emergency management capacities, with only 68% reporting high implementation rates. Only 35% have early warning systems for heat-related illnesses.

Key Recommendations

  • Complete Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments: Ensure that countries fulfill their commitments to better understand and address the health impacts of climate change.
  • Implement Health-Focused Climate Policies: Develop and enforce policies that prioritize health in climate action
  • Encourage Sustainable and Rapid Energy Transition: to clean energy sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and promoting renewable energy technologies.
  • Tags :
  • Paris Agreement
  • Air pollution
  • Lancet Countdown Report
  • Health and Climate
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