CLIMATE AND HEALTH: THE LINK IS BECOMING EVER MORE EVIDENT

Risks to human health are on the rise, yet we are neither talking about them nor doing enough

The 2026 European report of the Lancet Countdown was published recently, providing a systematic annual update of scientific evidence on climate and health. This new report highlights an increase in climate-related risks to human health, backed by a growing body of supporting scientific data. Crucially, it also reveals a decline in media, public, and political attention on these issues—issues that must be addressed to ensure a healthier and more resilient future against the impacts of climate change.

First and foremost, the report emphasizes a significant increase in both direct and indirect health risks linked to climate change. One of the most stark risks is heat-related mortality, which rose by 52 deaths per million people per year during the 2015–2024 period compared to 1991–2000. For a country of 60 million people like Italy, this translates to approximately 3,000 additional deaths annually. Days of extreme heat severe enough to pose health risks became more frequent in 2015–2024 (averaging 4.3 days per year) compared to 1991–2000 (1 day per year), a trend that is even more pronounced in Southern and Western European countries. Furthermore, driven by intensifying heatwaves and droughts, over one million more people across Europe are facing food insecurity compared to the annual average for the 1981–2010 period.

The potential for the spread and transmission of both emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases is also expanding due to climate change. Notably, the transmissibility of the Dengue virus in Europe tripled in 2015–2024 compared to 1981–2010, leading to localized outbreaks.

Due to the complexity of the linkages and impacts involved, the report does not analyze morbidity and mortality rates related to chronic illnesses, the increases in which remain difficult to quantify. However, data suggests an overall higher risk for vulnerable demographics, such as the elderly and individuals with pre-existing chronic conditions. Moreover, the poorest segments of the population—who live in less healthy environments—are the most exposed to the impacts of climate disasters (e.g., wildfires, floods) and food insecurity. They also have the least access to climate shelters and green spaces, which are essential for protecting and improving mental and physical health, while reducing exposure to heat and air pollution.

Institutional responses and local hurdles

At the political and administrative level, there are signs of movement. Two-thirds of European countries (36 out of 53) have conducted climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessments and established a Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP), as recommended by the international alliance ATACH (Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health). The vast majority of European cities (83% of the 209 surveyed) have undertaken climate risk and vulnerability assessments. However, many municipalities report difficulties in implementing climate adaptation measures due to a lack of funding, expertise, and political prioritization.

Furthermore, coherent and timely actions for mitigation and the phase-out of fossil fuels remain insufficient. Fossil fuel subsidies reached a new peak in 2023 (€444 billion) in response to the energy crisis following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite European targets for a fossil fuel phase-out (a 55% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050), only Denmark has currently adopted a national plan to implement it. Concurrently, the contribution of renewables to the European electricity supply is growing (21.5% in 2023 versus 8.4% in 2016), accompanied by a rise in renewable investments (€427 billion compared to €229 billion in 2015). To meet the European target of a 42.5% renewable energy share by 2030, further acceleration in deploying these energy sources is vital.

There is also an urgent need to reduce the combustion of solid biomass, which is predominantly used for residential heating. While this energy source is categorized as renewable (accounting for 31% of renewable energy in 2023), it remains one of the primary drivers of air pollution in Europe and is highly detrimental to health. Deaths attributable to air pollution from residential biomass combustion rose by 4% in 2022 compared to 2000. Additionally, residential biomass use contributes to net tree cover loss, which escalated by 80% in the 2014–2023 period compared to 2001–2010. A positive signal came from coal: following two consecutive years of growth, coal usage in Europe dropped to 13.6% of the total energy supply in 2023, down from 14.8% in 2022.

Mobility, diet, and the engagement gap

The report highlights only marginal progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from mobility and transitioning toward more sustainable diets. A collective shift in dietary habits would not only curb greenhouse gas emissions—to which the agri-food sector contributes 25–30%—but would also deliver a net improvement in human health and resilience against climate impacts. Estimates suggest that a “planetary health diet” (primarily plant-based, with reduced meat and dairy intake) could prevent 11 to 15 million chronic disease-related deaths globally each year.

Despite the mounting scientific evidence connecting climate and health, the report reveals a worrying drop in political, media, and public engagement with these issues. Only 0.4% of speeches delivered in the European Parliament in 2024 referenced both climate change and health jointly; 4.5% referred to climate change and 7.6% to health. Overall, all these topics were debated less frequently than in previous years. Furthermore, according to a survey spanning 29 European countries, a mere 1.2% of the population considers the climate-health nexus a public priority. In the media landscape, while climate change frequently emerges as a topic for sharing and discussion on social platforms (appearing in 21% of the 96,969 TikTok video descriptions analyzed), only a small fraction (2,776 videos, or 13.5%) includes health-related terms.

Running counter to this decline in public interest, climate litigation has emerged in recent years as a powerful platform and tool to demand the right to health and a clean environment in relation to climate change, carving out a more prominent space for health on the global climate and political agenda. Since 2011, with a peak between 2019 and 2021, the majority of climate lawsuits examined (58% out of a total of 961) cite health as a key factor. A landmark example was the advisory opinion requested from the International Court of Justice to define the obligations and responsibilities of states regarding climate change, which are necessary to protect human health alongside that of the planet. These legal cases have increasingly featured specific references to mental health and new terminology, such as “climate anxiety” and “eco-anxiety,” particularly in lawsuits brought forward by youth and other vulnerable groups.

This engagement gap, the report reiterates, is deeply concerning. Our understanding of the climate-health nexus is deeper than ever, and we are well aware that our actions toward the planet dictate our well-being; yet, we are neither talking about it enough nor doing enough to change the status quo. The impacts of climate change on health are already stark and evident, even within Europe, and they are bound to worsen if we fail to act swiftly and effectively. What is required is stronger political commitment and collective awareness, alongside sustainable and resilient healthcare systems and approaches that seamlessly integrate adaptation and mitigation to maximize the climate and health co-benefits of our actions and lifestyles.

Article by Lucia Giannini, Coordinator of the Climate and Health Section at Italian Climate Network.