Advantages of climate measures: An estimated 160,000 premature deaths were avoided each year between 2010 and 2022, just from reduced outdoor air pollution caused by coal. Renewable energy production has reached a record 12% of global electricity, creating 16 million jobs worldwide. Two thirds of medical students received climate and health education in 2024.
"We already have solutions at hand to avoid climate catastrophe - and communities and local governments around the world are proving that progress is possible. From clean energy growth to city adaptation, action is underway and delivering real health benefits - but we need to keep up the momentum," said Dr Marina Romanello, executive director of Lancet Countdown at University College London. "Rapidly phasing out fossil fuels in favor of clean renewable energy and efficient energy use remains the most powerful lever for slowing climate change and protecting lives. At the same time, a shift to healthier, more climate-friendly diets and more sustainable agricultural systems would greatly reduce pollution, greenhouse gases and deforestation, potentially saving more than ten million lives annually."
Climate action that promotes health
While some governments have slowed their climate commitments, the report shows that cities, communities and the health sector are leading the way. Almost all reporting cities (834 out of 858) have completed or plan to complete climate risk assessments. Energy transition brings cleaner air, healthier workplaces, measurable economic growth and internal investments.
Data provided by the WHO shows that a growing number of health systems are assessing the risks and preparing for the dangerous future ahead. Fifty-eight percent of Member States have completed the Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment, and 60% have completed the National Health Adaptation Plan.
Looking ahead to COP30: putting health at the center of climate action
As the world prepares for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the findings of the Global Lancet Countdown to 2025 report provide a key evidence base for accelerating health-focused climate action. WHO will build on this momentum through the upcoming COP30 Special Report on Climate Change and Health, a collaborative effort that highlights the policies and investments needed to protect health, equity and implement the Belém Plan of Action, an expected key outcome of COP30.