A child born today faces a future drastically shaped by climate change. The world has warmed 1°C above pre-industrial levels, with some regions experiencing increases as high as 3°C. Eight of the ten hottest years on record have occurred in the past decade, primarily due to burning fossil fuels. This rapid change impacts human health across all life stages, from infancy to old age.
Children are particularly vulnerable. Declining crop yields threaten food security, with infants susceptible to the lasting effects of undernutrition. Climate change also increases the suitability for the transmission of diseases like dengue fever and diarrheal illnesses. Nine of the ten most suitable years for dengue transmission have occurred since 2000.
Air pollution, worsened by climate change, damages vital organs throughout life. Global deaths from ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remained at 2.9 million in 2016, with total air pollution deaths reaching 7 million. The cumulative effects of this pollution impact health throughout adulthood.
Extreme weather events, increasing in frequency and severity, threaten livelihoods and displace families. From 2001-2014 to 2015-2018, 77% of countries experienced increased daily population exposure to wildfires. India and China saw the largest increases, with over 21 million and 17 million more exposures, respectively.
Heatwaves pose a significant threat, particularly to the elderly. From 1990 to 2018, global populations became more vulnerable to heat, with Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean remaining the most susceptible. In 2018, there were 220 million heatwave exposures globally, a record high. Beyond direct health impacts, climate change contributes to downstream risks like migration, poverty, conflict, and mental illness, affecting all ages and nationalities.
Current efforts to mitigate climate change are insufficient. The carbon intensity of the energy system remains stagnant, and fossil fuel consumption subsidies increased by 50% over the past three years. The healthcare sector contributes 4.6% of global emissions, a figure steadily rising. Today Is a critical point; continuing on this path will lead to a drastically altered and less healthy world.
However, a shift towards a sustainable future is possible. Renewables accounted for 45% of global power generation capacity growth in 2018. Global per capita use of electric vehicles increased by 20.6% between 2015 and 2016. Improvements in air pollution in Europe could potentially reduce Years of Life Lost significantly. Investments in health adaptation are increasing, and cities are developing climate resilience plans.
Despite these glimmers of progress, today is a call to action. Accelerated intervention is crucial to ensure that a child born today inherits a healthy planet. Bold policies, innovative research, and sustainable business practices are needed to change course. The health of future generations depends on the choices made today.