Governments fund fossil fuels despite massive health risks, Lancet report says
A new Lancet report finds that government subsidies for fossil fuels are driving an escalating global health crisis, with extreme weather and pollution increasingly affecting populations worldwide.
Saul Elbein reports for The Hill.
In short:
- In 2023, people worldwide experienced nearly two extra months of dangerous heat due to decades of fossil fuel use, worsening health and economic burdens.
- The report estimates that fossil fuel subsidies total $1.4 trillion annually, accelerating greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related health impacts like food insecurity, disease, and lost labor.
- The Lancet calls for redirecting fossil fuel subsidies toward clean energy and public health to mitigate these widespread harms and help build a sustainable future.
Key quote:
“This year’s stocktake of the imminent health threats of climate inaction reveals the most concerning findings yet in our eight years of monitoring.”
— Marina Romanello, executive director of Lancet Countdown
Why this matters:
Government funding for fossil fuels intensifies the health impacts of climate change, especially in poorer regions already facing severe challenges. Reallocating these funds to support renewable energy and health initiatives could curb these risks, advancing a healthier, more sustainable global environment.
Related: Biden's battle against enduring fossil fuel tax breaks
