COLONGY, Switzerland: A recent study published by World Economic Forum predicts that climate change will impact the global healthcare systems, resulting in 14.5 million deaths and $12.5 trillion in economic losses by 2050.
While much of the discussion around climate change has focused on its impact on nature and the global economy, some of the most pressing consequences will be on human health and the global healthcare system. This study aims to quantify the health consequences of climate change, both in terms of health outcomes (mortality and healthy life years lost) and economic costs to healthcare systems.
Researchers analyzed six major climate-driven events—floods, droughts, heat waves, tropical storms, wildfires, and rising sea levels—as significant drivers of negative health impacts. The findings suggest that by 2050, climate change could cause an additional 14.5 million deaths and $12.5 trillion in economic losses worldwide. Climate-induced impacts are expected to add $1.1 trillion in extra costs to healthcare systems, further burdening already strained infrastructures and resources.
Floods pose the highest acute risk, potentially causing 8.5 million deaths by 2050. Droughts, indirectly linked to extreme heat, are projected to be the second-highest cause of mortality, with an estimated 3.2 million deaths. Heat waves, characterized by prolonged periods of extreme temperatures and humidity, are anticipated to have the highest economic toll, costing an estimated $7.1 trillion by 2050 due to productivity losses.
In an alarming trend, every month in last 12 months has set new records for high temperatures, the World Economic Forum said. This unprecedented heat wave underscores the urgent challenges posed by climate change. Annika Green, the Lead for Climate and Health at the World Economic Forum suggested strategies for maintaining health in this increasingly warmer future and emphasized the importance of understanding the broad impacts of sustained high temperatures on public health.
Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to severe health issues, including heatstroke, dehydration, and exacerbation of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, Green added. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and those with preexisting health conditions, are particularly at risk, Green concluded.
