Climate change should be formally declared 'global health emergency', new study suggests

Climate change should be formally declared 'global health emergency', new study suggests Extreme drought affected nearly 52 per cent of the world’s land for at least a month in 2025 Sign up to the News Newsletter I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. Email address Sign up By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us A new report has urged international governments to declare climate change a global health emergency. Health harms from climate change have grown faster in the decade since countries signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 than in the decade before, according to the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change.

Annual average heat-related deaths rose by nearly 36 per cent globally after the Paris Agreement was introduced, its findings suggest. In 2023 alone, heat was linked to a record 710,000 deaths, with more than 70 per cent of that toll attributable to human-caused climate change, the researchers found. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say More than 140 experts from more than 30 countries worked on the paper, led by University College London (UCL) and produced in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Published ahead of the start of UN climate summit Cop31 next month, the paper tracks 54 "indicators" that cover how health interacts with areas such as heat, air quality, climate suitability for infectious disease transmission and energy systems. According to the findings, extreme drought affected nearly 52 per cent of the world’s land for at least a month in 2025, marking the second-highest level on record. Using new satellite-based analysis, the researchers also found that 80 per cent of the world’s land has seen significant shifts in dry and wet groundwater storage since 2003, with widespread impacts on food security and sanitation.

Much of Europe was hit with wildfires over the last summer | GETTY Clean energy investment reached a record in 2025 and was almost double what was invested in fossil fuels, the report said, adding that cleaner air prevented an estimated 323,000 deaths a year in at least 77 countries where air pollution from fossil fuels has fallen since 2016. But the researchers noted that fossil fuels still supply more than 80 per cent of the world’s energy, producing planet-heating emissions that are driving the climate crisis.

The UN recently warned that the world will overshoot the key climate threshold of 1.5C warming above pre-industrial levels, beyond which extreme weather events become more intense and frequent, and the risk of passing irreversible tipping points accelerates. The researchers found that the 100 largest oil and gas companies in the world are on track to exceed production levels compatible with limiting warming to 1.5C by 150 per cent by 2040, up from 138 per cent last year.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Over 50,000 people died of heat-related causes across Europe in 'deadliest Summer on record' 'It is NOT the end of the world!' Bjorn Lomborg on climate change, UK heatwaves and adaptations Andy Burnham set to announce plans for new North Sea oil and gas drilling in blow to Ed Miliband British holidaymakers on the Croatian island of Brac were forced to evacuate as a wildfire engulfed the Gava Waterman Milna Resort | FACEBOOK/JOSH ROBBINS Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown, Professor Marina Romanello, said: "A decade after the Paris Agreement, our findings are unambiguous: the health harms of climate change are growing faster than the world’s response to them, and in many cases even accelerating.

"Real progress has been made in clean energy, health system readiness, and health-protective regulation, all of which are already delivering health benefits to local communities. "However, progress has been too slow, too small, and isn’t reaching those who need it most. "That is why we are calling for climate change to be formally recognised as a global health emergency, with health placed at the centre of every climate decision." The drought and heatwave continue to make life especially difficult for those with dementia | PA She added: "These numbers point to a clear emergency.

"The rate of increase in many climate-related health threats is accelerating, while heat deaths linked to climate change have reached a record high, and the economic toll is battering vulnerable sectors and communities the hardest. "The risks become even more profound when you consider how different hazards interact and compound. At the same time, drought is spreading, and the world is swinging to water extremes, some drying out, while others are flooding.

"This isn’t a gradual worsening; it’s a step change that must be recognised as the global health emergency it is." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter News RAF Fairford suspects in court over alleged Iran-linked terror plot News Royal Navy deploys three of Britain’s four submarines armed with ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads News Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks out on GB News from pro-life march on anniversary of Abortion Act News Majority of Britons want UK to produce its own oil and gas instead of importing, new poll shows News Teenage waitress wins more than £13,000 in tribunal after being shouted at for dropping apple crumble News Andrew Tate investigation probed by police watchdog over handling of 'child sex' videos News Neighbour from hell hurls dirty nappies into homeowner's garden in seven-year 'torture' campaign News British experts design AI missiles that can protect UK from Russia with 'mini Iron Domes' News Residents of 'Britain’s unhappiest town' plead with Chancellor ahead of Budget: 'We need help!'

News Hiker in his 40s dies after horrific plunge from notorious UK mountain ridge News Residents 'furious' after council forces them to put out 12 separate bins News Woman dies after being swept out to sea by wave while 'walking her dog' as storm batters Britain News National Lottery players urged to check tickets as £1million jackpot prize remains unclaimed News Record 6,000 children referred to anti-terror scheme as UK faces terrifying surge in youth extremism News Police defend decision to release RAF Fairford suspects on bail as two men charged with National Security Act offences News British cuppa deemed 'old-fashioned' as over eight in 10 of Gen Z ditch tea and coffee for alternatives News Heathrow travel chaos erupts as airport line hit with severe delays and trains cancelled after incident on track News Supermarkets run out of water and baked beans as Britons rush to stockpile after Labour's call for emergency kits News Two men charged with National Security Act offences following RAF Fairford investigation News Albanian fisherman admits to 'brazen attempt' to smuggle 17 migrants into Britain onboard yacht News Royal Mail releases Poppy-coloured stamp set to honour armed forces News Britons scramble to withdraw cash from ATMs after Labour issues ominous 'Be Ready' emergency guidance News Tony Blair's think tank says Britain's energy strategy needs a 'fundamental reset' amid spiralling costs News Pro-Palestine protesters breach security barrier outside Ballon d’Or ceremony News Girl, 6, launches appeal as dad 'unbelievably proud' of one of Britain's youngest poppy sellers Exclusive News Council promotes 'Islamophobia' conference starting during Armistice Day silence then deletes post after GB News investigation News Father who painted Union Jack on house banned from dressing up as Santa Claus and handing children presents News Man who died after being hit by falling tree in Storm Boelo named as world-renowned royal gardener News Iraqi migrant will not be deported amid claims he faces death threats after sleeping with another man's wife News National Lottery winner FINALLY comes forward to claim over £5.8m jackpot