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Climate Change Fuels Surge in Heat, Pollution Deaths Worldwide
29 Oct
Summary
- Heat-related deaths up 23% since 1990s, now 546,000 per year
- Record 154,000 deaths from wildfire smoke in 2024
- 2.5 million deaths annually from fossil fuel air pollution
According to a new report released on October 28, 2025, the devastating health impacts of climate change are escalating rapidly around the world. The rate of heat-related deaths has risen by 23% since the 1990s, now claiming 546,000 lives each year. Additionally, a record 154,000 deaths occurred in 2024 due to air pollution from wildfire smoke.
The report also found that 2.5 million deaths per year are attributable to air pollution created by the burning of fossil fuels like gasoline and coal. This surge in climate-related deaths has occurred as some governments, including the United States, have backtracked on their climate commitments.
"The stark reality is that one of the greatest threats to human prosperity comes from leaders and companies who are rolling back on climate commitments, delaying action and doubling down on fossil fuel production," said Nadia Ameli, a professor of climate finance at University College London.
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Experts warn that if the world remains locked into fossil fuel dependence, health systems, cooling infrastructure, and disaster response capacities will soon be overwhelmed, putting the health and lives of the world's 8 billion people further at risk.
