How Heat and Air Pollution Endanger Our Health
The countdown is on: The new report from the prestigious medical journal “The Lancet”, aptly titled „Countdown on Health and Climate Change“, paints a grim picture. “The authors speak of an ‘unprecedented threat to health and life worldwide‘“, as SPIEGEL also reports. Alarming figures prove it: The climate crisis is already costing millions of lives each year. The report reveals the fatal and extremely costly consequences of the climate crisis. But the most important message is: We can take action.
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Climate Change as a Disease Accelerator: Heat, Particulate Matter, and Infections
Twelve out of 20 indicators for climate-related health hazards have reached record levels, according to the report. The figures from the “Lancet Countdown“ are alarming.
- Approximately 2.5 million people die annually from the effects of air pollution directly attributable to the burning of fossil fuels. This invisible danger harms the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and impairs overall quality of life.
- At the same time, heat is becoming an ever-greater threat: “Since the 1990s, the number of heat-related deaths has risen globally by 23 percent, to an annual average of about 546,000 in the years 2012 to 2021.“
- Additionally, global warming facilitates the spread of infectious diseases such as dengue or West Nile fever into new regions.
The Immense Economic Burden
Beyond the immeasurable human suffering, these crises also cause enormous economic damage. “In 2024 alone, 639 billion working hours were lost worldwide due to heat. That is 98 percent more than the average for the years 1990 to 1999 and corresponds to a loss of income of around 1.09 trillion US dollars.”
Added to this are the indirect costs for healthcare systems, which arise from treating respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and heatstroke. These figures prove that investing in prevention and climate resilience not only saves lives but is also a financial imperative.
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Not a Distant Problem – The Situation in Germany
The developments and consequences have long been tangible in Germany as well. Specifically referring to Germany, the report states that 50.7 million potential working hours were lost last year due to heat – 77 percent more than the average for the years 1990 to 1999. This clearly shows: The consequences of the climate crisis are not an abstract vision of the future, but a real and local threat with tangible economic and health consequences today.
The Good News
Perhaps the most important finding of the report is that these negative developments are not inevitable: “At the same time, the data shows that measures already initiated are having an effect.” The transition to clean energy and sustainable lifestyles has saved numerous lives – and could save many more.
It’s about developing new approaches and making urban areas more resilient.
Nature as a Model and Solution
This is precisely where the multifunctional and bio-digitalen solutions from Green City Solutions come in. Nature itself offers the most intelligent and efficient solutions to meet the challenges of air pollution and urban overheating. Nature-based technologies are the key to creating healthy, livable, and future-proof spaces.
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Whether through the targeted filtering of pollutants from the air or natural evaporative cooling to reduce heat stress – the potential is enormous.
By combining the power of nature with intelligent technology, we can measurably improve air quality, lower temperatures in our cities, and sustainably enhance the quality of life for all residents.
Are you ready to make your city more climate-resilient and healthier?
Contact us to learn how our bio-tech solutions can make a measurable contribution to improving air quality and reducing heat stress in your urban environment.