Scaling up six climate and health measures could prevent an estimated 1.56 million deaths each year, according to a World Health Organization report published November 4. The figure is a modelled projection, not a count of lives already saved.
The WHO analysis covers 187 countries and estimates that the measures could also generate US$3.9 trillion a year in economic well-being benefits and US$5.4 trillion in fiscal benefits. The findings are set out in the organization’s technical report.
The six actions assessed are:
- Heat-health warning systems
- Climate-resilient drinking-water services
- Resilient basic sanitation
- Access to handwashing and hygiene services
- Cleaner household energy for cooking and heating
- More efficient fossil fuel pricing policies
The WHO estimates that fossil fuel pricing policies account for about 1.2 million of the projected annual deaths prevented. The measure assessed involves reforming prices, including through changes to subsidies and corrective taxes; it is not a direct estimate of the health effects of phasing out all fossil fuels.
For the other five interventions, the report estimates an average return of US$24 in benefits for each dollar invested. That calculation does not apply to the fossil fuel pricing measure, which was assessed separately.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the climate crisis is also a health crisis, but much of its harm can be prevented with existing tools. The organization’s announcement called on governments to scale up the measures, with the greatest potential gains in countries most in need.
Clayton Ward 
Nicole French