The 2019 Report

1.1.3 Exposure of Vulnerable Populations To Heatwaves

In 2018, 220 million more heatwave exposures affecting older populations were observed – 11 million more than the previous record set in 2015, increasing risk of heart stress, kidney disease, heart disease and stroke.

1.2.1 Wildfires

152 out of 196 countries saw increases in populations exposed to wildfires from the early 2000s to present day. India alone experienced an annual daily population wildfire exposure increase of 21.8 million.

1.4.1 Climate Suitability for Infectious Disease Transmission

Vectorial capacity for the transmission of dengue was 2nd highest on record in 2017, with 9 of the 10 most suitable years occurring since 2000. The average increase above the 1950s baseline was 7.2% for Aedes aegypti and 9.8% for A. albopictus.

1.5 Food Security and Undernutrition

Crop growth season duration has reduced by 2.9% for maize, 3.8% for winter wheat and 3.1% for soybean crops from 1988 to 2017, with potential implications for global undernutrition.

2.1.3 City-Level Climate Change Risk Assessments

54% of global cities surveyed in 2018 expected climate change to seriously compromise their public health infrastructure.

2.2 Climate Information Services for Health

The number of countries providing climate services to the health sector increased from 55 in 2018 to 70 in 2019.

2.3.1 Detection, Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies

109 countries have medium to high levels of national implementation of a responsive health emergency framework – helping them respond to disease outbreaks, air pollution, extreme temperatures, droughts, floods and storms.

2.4 Spending on Adaptation for Health and Health-Related Activities

In 2018, global health adaptation spending increased by 11.2%, reaching 5% of total climate change adaptation spending.

3.1.1 Carbon Intensity of the Energy System

The carbon intensity of the global energy system has remained flat since 1990.

3.2 Access and Use of Clean Energy

Almost 3 billion people live without access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, and the use of safe and healthy technologies usage remains at just 7.5% of households in low-income countries.

3.5 Food, Agriculture and Health

Red meat from ruminants contributed 3 GtCO2e in 2016 – 93% of total livestock emissions. Plant-rich diets could improve health and help reduce GHG emissions.

3.6 Mitigation in the Healthcare Sector

Global healthcare sector greenhouse gas emissions were 4.6% of the global total emissions in 2016.

4.1 Economic Losses due to Climate-Related Extreme Events

In 2018, 831 climate-related extreme events resulted in US$166 billion in economic losses and no measurable losses in low-income countries were covered by insurance.

4.2 Economic Costs of Air Pollution

In Europe improvements in particulate air pollution from human activity were seen from 2015 to 2016. If the levels of pollution for these two years remained the same over a person’s lifetime, this would lead to an annual average reduction in Years of Life Lost worth €5.2 billion saved.

4.3.2 Investments in Zero-Carbon Energy and Energy Efficiency

In 2018, investments in zero-carbon energy were 20% of total investments in the global energy system. By 2030 zero-carbon energy investments must account for at least 65% of total annual investments.

4.3.4 Funds Divested from Fossil Fuels

US$2.135 trillion new funds were committed to fossil fuel divestment in 2018. Health institutions accounted for around US$66.5 million of this.

4.4.1 Fossil Fuel Subsidies

In 2018, fossil fuel consumption subsidies increased to US$427 billion – over a third higher than 2017 levels, and over 50% higher than 2016 levels.

5.2 Individual Engagement in Health and Climate Change

Individuals typically seek information about either health OR climate change. Where they seek information across these areas, it is primarily driven by an initial interest in health-related content.

5.3 Government Engagement in Health and Climate Change

National leaders are increasingly drawing attention to health and climate change at the UN General Debate. This trend has been led by small island developing states, who comprised of 36% of the total countries referencing health and climate change in 2018.