A new World Economic Forum (WEF) report published earlier this week at the ongoing WEF Davos Summit in Switzerland has shown that climate change is likely to cause an additional 14.5 million deaths and $12.5 trillion in economic losses worldwide by 2050.
According to the joint report by WEF and a consulting firm, Oliver Wyman, the greatest risk is posed by flooding.
The authors of the study-based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) medium scenario for temperature rise by 2100, which assumes an increase in the average temperature of 2.7 degrees Celsius- analysed six key consequences of climate change: floods, droughts, heatwaves, tropical storms, forest fires and rising sea levels.
According to the study, healthcare systems are also predicted to face an additional $1.1 trillion burden due to climate-induced impacts.
According to estimates, flooding alone could cause 8.5 million deaths by 2050 – not only directly, but also indirectly through crop damage, increased infectious diseases and higher humidity, which can lead to respiratory diseases.
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With its heavily populated coastal regions, the Asia-Pacific region is likely to bear the brunt of this. The authors expect the second-highest mortality rate of 3.2 million deaths to be caused by droughts –primarily due to the long-term effects of declining water quality and less fertile soils on child mortality.
According to the report, heatwaves could cost around 1.6 million lives by 2050, especially among older people.
Also, the report predicts there would be an increase in illnesses and cases of occupational disability. Warmer temperatures, for example, could cause mosquitoes to spread significantly, making malaria, dengue fever and Zika infections more common in Europe and the US.
The study showed that regions in Africa, the Middle East and Asia would be particularly affected by the health consequences of climate change.
Story was adapted from Nigerian Tribune.
