According to a new report, the connection between climate inaction and millions of these preventable deaths per year is just as shocking. These findings expose the truth that fossil fuel pollution causes air pollution leading to more than 2.5 million deaths in 2022. Contrary to what taxpayers might assume, the report emphasizes that these government subsidies exceeded $950 billion in 2023. These funds are misguided and they directly continue to support fossil fuel projects that threaten public health and the environment.
In 2024, global surface temperatures reached record-breaking highs, surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial averages for the first time ever. This increase in temperature has been attributed to a number of climate-related events such as heat waves, droughts, and heavy precipitation. These transformations pose grave public health threats to vulnerable populations worldwide.
The Health Toll of Climate Change
Our rising exposure to extreme heat has resulted in an alarming average of 546,000 deaths per year from 2012-2021. This figure marks a substantial increase from the numbers recorded in the 1990s, underscoring the escalating health crisis linked to climate change. Climate change is causing heat-related illnesses across the country and worsening pre-existing medical conditions like asthma and heart disease – especially in marginalized communities.
In 2023, these effects were aggravated by toxic fumes from wildfires, which are estimated to have contributed to a record 154,000 deaths. These fires, frequently worsened by climate change, pump dangerous pollutants into the air, exacerbating public health dangers. These disasters combined have a cumulative effect that is profound. They underscore the urgent need for ambitious, equitable climate action to mitigate rising health threats from climate change.
Fossil Fuel Subsidies Under Scrutiny
Despite government rhetoric on tackling climate change, the report clearly singles out fossil fuel subsidies as a key sticking point preventing real action on curbing climate change. In 2023, countries across the globe set a new record of $950 billion in subsidizing fossil fuels. This practice has been roundly condemned by many industries, sectors, and associations. Among the biggest culprits of this kind are Russia, Iran, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and China.
These subsidies further entrench us in the harmful status quo of fossil fuel dependency. They steal away limited resources from renewable energy projects that could mitigate climate impacts. According to the report, targeting these environmental and water management subsidies is a necessary step for advancing greenhouse gas reductions and fostering positive public health benefits.
Political Decisions Impacting Climate Action
The impact of political decisions on the state of play for climate initiatives could not be more clear. One extreme but easy to identify example is former U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from international aid programs and climate accords. This decision was felt worldwide, as several countries took up similar positions further derailing multilateral attempts to tackle the climate crisis.
The energy landscape was further complicated by the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. So European governments rushed to tame skyrocketing energy prices, which totaled $1.4 trillion that year. Instead of putting us on the path to a clean energy future, this crisis sparked a greater dependence on fossil fuels.