Climate Health Harms Outpace Action, Prompting Calls for Global Health Emergency

The 2026 Report of The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change reveals that many climate-related health risks and harms accelerated faster in the decade following the Paris Agreement (2016–2025) compared to the preceding decade (2006–2015). This trend signals that current global efforts are insufficient to protect human health from escalating climate threats. The report underscores that despite international commitments, the gap between climate action and health impacts is widening, placing additional strain on health systems worldwide. It calls for a global health emergency to address the growing burden. The findings emphasize the urgent need for stronger mitigation and adaptation strategies to safeguard public health in the face of rapid environmental change.