Global Launch of the 2024 report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change

About the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change

Climate change threatens to undermine the last 50 years of gains in public health, with more intense and frequent extreme weather and weather-related events, increased heatwave exposure, alteration in the spread of infectious diseases, and exacerbated poverty and mental ill-health. Beyond avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, accelerated climate action could bring immediate and substantial benefits for human health, with cleaner air, healthier diets, and more liveable cities.

The Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change exists to monitor this transition from threat to opportunity. Led by University College London’s Institute for Global Health, the global collaboration brings together over 300 leading experts from academic institutions and UN agencies, including climate scientists, engineers, energy specialists, economists, political scientists, public health professionals and doctors.

Each year the findings are published annually in medical journal The Lancet ahead of the UN climate change negotiations, as well as in regional reports for key world regions. The data makes clear how climate change is affecting our health, the consequences of delayed action and the health benefits of a robust response.

For more information, visit lancetcountdown.org.

About the 2024 Global Lancet Countdown Report

This year the Lancet Coutdown publishes the 8th Lancet Countdown annual indicator report, funded by Wellcome and developed in close collaboration with the World Health Organization. The report represents the work of 122 leading experts from 57 academic institutions and UN agencies globally.

Published ahead of the 29th UN Conference of the Parties (COP), the report provides the most up-to-date assessment of the links between health and climate change.