Global findings from the 8th annual indicator report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change reveal alarming new records in health risks associated with climate change, emphasising the urgent need to redirect financial resources from fossil fuel investments towards health protection.
This year's report highlights that Bangladesh is significantly affected by these threats, underscoring the critical need for action.
In Bangladesh, the prevalence of health-threatening extreme heat is on the rise.
Air pollution is inflicting a heavy toll on public health, leading to a high burden of disease and unnecessary deaths. The transition to sero-emission, clean energy sources is imperative. From 2014 to 2023, infants experienced an average of 8.6 heatwave days annually, while adults over 65 faced 8.1 heatwave days.
In 2023, these figures reached record highs of 20.9 and 20 heatwave days per year, respectively. The number of heatwave days for children under one was 2.3 times greater than that for the same demographic from 1986-2005, and adults over 65 experienced 5.2 times more heat wave days over the same period. Individuals faced moderate or higher heat stress risks for approximately 2,800 hours each year, which is equivalent to one-third of the year during light outdoor activities.
The impact of heat exposure has severe economic consequences, with an estimated income loss of $21 billion due to reduced labour capacity in 2023. Agricultural workers were particularly affected, experiencing 63.5% of the potential hours lost and 54% of the associated income losses. Moreover, the toll of air pollution is stark, with 212,000 deaths attributed to anthropogenic air pollution (PM₂.₅) in 2021. Fossil fuels, particularly coal and liquid gas, contributed to 40.4% of these deaths, with the monetised value of premature mortality from air pollution reaching $52.6 billion.
Health risks are compounded by the indoor burning of solid fuels, leading to approximately 74 deaths per 100,000 individuals in Bangladesh in 2020. The suitability for transmission of various infectious diseases, including dengue and malaria, is increasingly influenced by climate change. From 2014 to 2023, climatic conditions in Bangladesh's lowlands favoured the spread of malaria for more than half of the year. Additionally, the population living within 100 kilometres of coastal waters suitable for Vibrio transmission increased by 32% since 1990-1999, now affecting 44.5 million people.
The World Health Organisation also highlights a significant rise in dengue cases in Bangladesh, exacerbated by climate change factors such as increased temperatures and heavy rainfall. The distribution of dengue vectors, particularly Aedes aegypti, has intensified in previously unexposed areas. By November 2023, Bangladesh reported 308,167 dengue cases, a drastic increase from 62,382 in 2022, alongside a rising death toll from 281 (CFR 0.45%) to 1,598 (CFR 0.52%).
Bangladesh is also grappling with severe environmental challenges. Nearly 172 million individuals were exposed to sand and dust levels that exceeded WHO thresholds at least once over the past five years. From 2019 to 2023, an average of 82% of the country experienced at least one month of extreme drought, with 41% facing at least three months and nearly 25% enduring six months or more of extreme drought.
Despite these alarming findings, Bangladesh continues to invest heavily in fossil fuel subsidies, totaling a record $26.8 billion in 2022, surpassing carbon revenues. Coal made up close to 5.5% of electricity generation, while low-carbon sources, including renewables, contributed less than 2%. The decline in biomass for household energy use from 81% in 2000 to 53% in 2021 highlights the pressing need for investment in technology transfers and financing for sustainable energy solutions.
Dr Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown, emphasised the urgent need for action, stating that the ongoing expansion of fossil fuels exacerbates health impacts linked to climate change, threatening to undo the limited progress achieved thus far.
The report advocates for a transformative approach to global financial systems that prioritises health and reallocates resources from a fossil fuel-dependent economy to a sero-emissions future. This transition will promote public health and wellbeing through cleaner air, better diets, and sustainable job opportunities.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed the call for urgent action, emphasizing the necessity of addressing climate inaction by reducing emissions, protecting vulnerable populations from climate extremes, and ending dependence on fossil fuels.
