The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: Shaping the Health of Nations for Centuries to Come

This Lancet Countdown’s 2018 report tracks 41 indicators across five categories in health and climate change—climate change impacts, exposures, and vulnerability; health adaptation, planning, and resilience; mitigation actions and health co-benefits; finance and economics; and public and political engagement. The report—the product of a global, multidisciplinary research collaboration between 27 leading academic institutions, the United Nations (UN), and intergovernmental agencies from every continent—emphasizes that delays in reducing emissions and amplifying climate adaptation efforts will threaten human lives and overwhelm national health systems. Current trends in heat waves, infectious disease, and food security give a glimpse of future challenges the world will face if temperatures continue rising. Despite the slow progress in acting on climate change and health, many sectors are beginning a low-carbon transition—an opportunity the global community must invest in and accelerate over the coming years.

The Lancet Countdown builds on the success of the 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change, and provides a global overview of the relationship between public health and climate change. The Countdown actively seeks to engage new experts and partners, as well as integrate existing monitoring processes such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the World Health Organization’s Country Profiles. The companion website site offers access to related data, publications, infographics, multimedia content, webinars, and news. The 2018 report is accompanied by additional resources such as country-specific policy briefings, a video summary, a video on heat stress, and a podcast discussing the 2018 findings.