Health · Public Health & Disease · 2 hrs ago
WHO says climate measures could prevent 1.56 million deaths each year
The World Health Organization says six measures could prevent 1.56 million deaths a year by reducing climate-related health harms.
The proposals include heat-health warning systems, climate-resilient water and sanitation, better hand hygiene and cleaner household energy.
The WHO also recommends effective pricing of fossil fuels, which it estimates could account for 1.2 million of the annual deaths prevented and 98% of emissions avoided.
Together, the measures could prevent 16.67 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions each year.
The WHO says lower- and middle-income countries could gain proportionally more in health and economic benefits than richer countries.
It is calling on governments to include health in climate policy and speed up action, with the proposals published ahead of the UN climate conference COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.
The World Health Organization says six climate measures could prevent 1.56 million deaths each year.
The measures include heat-health warning systems, climate-resilient water and sanitation, improved hand hygiene, cleaner household energy and effective fossil-fuel pricing.
Together, the measures could also prevent 16.67 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions annually, according to the WHO.
Fossil-fuel pricing could account for 1.2 million of the deaths prevented and 98% of the emissions avoided.
The WHO urged governments to include health in climate policies and speed up action.
- Who
- The World Health Organization proposed the measures. Its Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged governments to act.
- What
- The WHO outlined six climate measures that it says could prevent 1.56 million deaths each year.
- When
- The report was published on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
- Where
- The recommendations are for implementation worldwide.
- Why
- To reduce climate-related harm to health, prevent deaths and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A report in The Lancet called on governments to declare climate change a global health emergency.
The WHO published its report setting out six measures to address climate-related health risks.
The 31st UN climate conference, COP31, was due to take place in Antalya, Turkey.
- Annual deaths potentially prevented
- 1.56 million
- Measures proposed
- 6
- Annual emissions potentially avoided
- 16.67 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent
- Deaths potentially prevented through fossil-fuel pricing
- 1.2 million
- Share of emissions avoided through fossil-fuel pricing
- 98%
- Countries included in heat-warning-system estimates
- 187
What people are saying
Solutions exist (...) and are ready to be deployed worldwide
The world must identify, prioritize and implement solutions to prevent loss of life and protect communities from climate-related harm