Scientists urge measures against global warming “without precedents” in Europe, which increases mortality related to high temperatures, with a higher incidence among women, and increases food insecurity.
These are the conclusions of the 2024 Lancet Countdown report, published in the scientific journal The Lancet Public Health and coordinated by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), center promoted by the Foundation “The Caixa”.
The report analyzes the health and economic repercussions of the climate crisis in Europe and, one month before the elections to the European Parliament, warns of “the lack of political action to protect EU citizens from climate change”so it is urgent to accelerate the pace of reducing polluting emissions.
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According to the study, in 2023 record temperatures were recorded across the planet and, in the case of Europe, they are rising twice the global average, with a 41% increase in the number of days with heat waves.
Among the main consequences, the increase in heat-related deaths by 9% stands out, especially in southern Europe (11%), with an incidence twice as high in women than in men.
Global warming has also contributed to the increase in food insecurity, causing 11.9 million people to experience an unbalanced diet in 2021 due to months of drought or heat waves.
Again, deaths attributable to food insecurity were higher among women.
Likewise, the report delves into the economic consequences of the climate crisis and shows that in 2022 the economic losses due to extreme weather events were estimated at 18.7 billion euros, which represented 0.08% of European GDP, and 44.2% of European GDP. % (8.2 billion euros) were not insured.
The study has also analyzed indicators on governance and politics, which show “little commitment to aspects of equality, equity or justice in climate and health research, policy and media”, according to the researchers.
Greater impact on vulnerable population
In this sense, the report has proven that not only are there differences between men and women in mortality and nutrition, but that low-income households were substantially more likely to suffer from food insecurity and exposure to PM2.5 particles from fires. forestry was higher in very disadvantaged areas.
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Within countries, ethnic minorities and indigenous populations, low-income communities, migrants and displaced people, sexual and gender minorities, and pregnant and parturient women tend to be more severely affected by the effects of climate on health.
On the other hand, Lancet Countdown scientists warn that 29 of the 53 countries analyzed continue to grant subsidies to fossil fuels.
However, they highlight that investment in clean energies exceeded that of fossil fuels in Europe by 261% in 2022 (404 million euros compared to 112 million).
Slow pace towards zero emissions
The Lancet Countdow report concludes that the pace at which European countries are moving towards net zero emissions “remains woefully inadequate” and, on Europe’s current trajectory, “achieving carbon neutrality will only be achieved by 2100.”
To meet the recommendations of the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to reach zero net emissions by 2040, “emissions from European energy systems should be reduced at a rate approximately three times faster than today,” the scientists say.
The latest Eurobarometer data reveals that 84% of Europeans agree that combating climate change must be a priority to improve public health, and almost 7 in 10 Europeans think their national governments are not doing enough to combat climate change.
EFE
