Area Of focus
Climate & Health
Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century and affects the health of each of us. This era-defining challenge calls on all of us to share health know-how, ideas, and resources.
Facts and figures
3.6B
people live in areas highly susceptible to climate change.
14.5M
additional deaths predicted by 2050.
15x
increase in the death rate from extreme weather in vulnerable areas.
56%
of people suffer from climate anxiety in the US alone.
37%
of heat-related deaths are attributed to climate change.
828M
people are affected by food insecurity – 150 million more people since 2019
29%
more land is impacted by drought than in the 1950s.
$1.1T
predicted cost to health systems due to climate change.
44M
more people will be in extreme poverty by 2030.
5%
of climate adaptation funding is for health
WHO’s role in climate and health
Advocate
The World Health Organization (WHO) uses its global influence to outline threats to health from climate change, it advocates for opportunities to promote health while cutting carbon emissions, and ensures that health is fully represented in international climate change discussions.
Evidence-gatherer
WHO assesses the scientific evidence on climate change’s impact on health and develops a global research agenda based on its wide-ranging assessment of health needs.
Comprehensive support
WHO advises countries on effective ways to protect human health from climate change. It supports them to cut carbon emissions within the health sector, and increase the resilience of health systems against the threats posed by climate change.
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