Global Health Gains Are Slipping — and Climate Is a Major Driver

The WHO reports that global life expectancy fell by nearly two years during the pandemic, erasing a decade of progress. Climate-related health threats — heatwaves, pollution, and extreme weather — are accelerating the decline.

Experts warn that without coordinated global action, climate-driven health impacts could cause millions of additional deaths by 2050.

Still, there is opportunity: strategic investments in prevention, diagnostics, and resilient infrastructure could save millions of lives and reduce economic losses.