Major health risks due to the climate crisis
Experts point out the health consequences of the climate crisis with drastic figures. Even if the rise in the global average temperature remained at just under two degrees compared to pre-industrial times, the number of global heat-related deaths would increase by 370 percent by the middle of the century, write the authors of the "Lancet Countdown on health and climate change". 114 international experts led by Marina Romanello from University College London (UK) have published the report in the specialist journal "The Lancet".
According to the report, people around the world are now exposed to twice as many days of extreme heat as in the period from 1986 to 2005, which is particularly life-threatening for young children and the elderly. The number of heat-related deaths of people over the age of 65 has recently risen by 85 percent compared to the years 1991 to 2000. "Doing nothing will cost us dearly. We cannot afford to be so inactive - the cost will be human lives," Romanello said in a statement.
The increasing heat also means that there are fewer and fewer safe hours to work or exercise outdoors. In addition, the dangers of forest fires and the spread of tropical infectious diseases are increasing. The researchers acknowledge that the number of renewable energies is increasing and that further measures are being taken to protect the climate. But: "With 1337 tons of carbon dioxide still being emitted every second, we are not reducing emissions nearly fast enough to keep climate hazards at a level that our health systems can cope with," said Romanello.
Summer temperatures have risen by 1.8 degrees
In Germany, people were exposed to potentially life-threatening heat for an average of 7.9 days per year between 2013 and 2022. Although this is significantly less than the global average of 86 days, the average summer temperatures in Germany between 2018 and 2022 were 1.8 degrees Celsius higher than in the period 1986 to 2005.
In Germany, for example, the high temperatures led to around 34 million working hours being lost in 2022 due to the heat - mainly in construction. According to the report, this is an increase of twelve percent compared to the period 1991 to 2000.
Although 31 percent of electricity in Germany was generated from renewable energies in 2020, the figure for all energy sectors combined - heating, transportation and others - was only six percent. "The low use of clean renewable energy and the continued use of fossil fuels and biomass lead to high levels of air pollution, which increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders and adverse pregnancy outcomes, and results in a high burden of disease and mortality," the study authors write in a special evaluation for Germany.
Researchers advocate a low-meat diet
Another part of the report is dedicated to the connection between diet, climate change and health. The scientists found that livestock farming is responsible for 57 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture worldwide. Not only do cattle in particular emit large amounts of methane, but fodder cultivation also consumes large parts of agricultural land. In addition, 1.9 million deaths worldwide in 2020 were linked to excessive consumption of red meat, processed meat and dairy products, with over 87,000 deaths in Germany. The researchers therefore advocate a plant-based and low-meat diet.
However, the scientists also have positive things to report. For example, global deaths caused by air pollution have fallen by 15.7 percent since 2005. In addition, around 1,500 billion euros were invested in clean energy in 2022, 61 percent more than in fossil fuels.
The report from the "Lancet Countdown on health and climate change" highlights that if global average temperature increases by just under two degrees compared to pre-industrial times, the increase in heat-related deaths would be significantly linked to climate change, rising by 370% by mid-century (Science, Health, Climate).
Furthermore, the scientists associated with the report underscore the impact of livestock farming on climate, revealing that it accounts for 57% of all greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture worldwide. Excessive consumption of red meat, processed meat, and dairy products led to 1.9 million deaths globally in 2020, including over 87,000 in Germany (Science, Health, Climate).
Source: www.dpa.com
