Climate emergency is already a deadly health crisis, warns WHO

According to WHO’s European office, the region is warming faster than any other it oversees, with serious consequences for human health. Rising temperatures, worsening air pollution, and shifting ecosystems are contributing to a growing burden of disease, while climate-related anxiety is also on the rise.

In response, WHO/Europe has launched the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health (PECCH), led by former Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir. The commission, made up of 11 experts, will focus on developing practical recommendations to address the health impacts of climate change.

Heat-related mortality remains one of the most urgent concerns. Nearly one-third of global heat-related deaths occur in Europe, and more than 100,000 people across 35 countries in the region died from extreme heat during 2022 and 2023 alone.

Jakobsdóttir stressed that the climate crisis must be understood not only as an environmental issue but also as a pressing health challenge. She noted that the combined effects of rising temperatures, pollution, and ecological disruption are already undermining the wellbeing of communities.

The newly formed commission aims to propose solutions that reduce emissions, strengthen adaptation strategies, and improve resilience—particularly for vulnerable populations who are most at risk.

Experts warn that the health impacts of climate change are broad and intensifying. Andrew Haines, a senior advisor to the initiative, highlighted growing threats including the spread of infectious diseases, heat-related illnesses, and increasing food insecurity.

Overall, the WHO underscores that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a current and escalating crisis—one that is already affecting public health systems and contributing to rising mortality across the region.