Scaling up six proven climate and health measures could prevent 1.6 million deaths every year and generate trillions of dollars in economic and fiscal benefits, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report, Global Benefits and Costs of Prioritized Actions on Climate Change and Health, highlights how practical, existing solutions can help countries address the growing health risks associated with climate change while reducing emissions and strengthening their economies.
According to the WHO, implementing the six measures globally could deliver an estimated US$3.9 trillion in annual economic welfare benefits and a further US$5.4 trillion in fiscal benefits. The measures could also prevent 16.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to 31% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions excluding land use, land-use change and forestry.
The findings underline the potential for climate action to deliver three major benefits at once: healthier populations, lower emissions and stronger economies. “The climate crisis is a health crisis, but much of the harm it causes can be prevented with tools we already have,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He stressed that expanding affordable, proven interventions could save millions of lives, particularly in countries that face the greatest challenges, and called for health protection to be placed at the centre of international climate action.
Six practical measures with far-reaching benefits
The WHO report assesses six interventions that governments can scale up to reduce climate-related health risks and improve living conditions. These include heat-health warning systems, climate-resilient drinking-water services, basic sanitation, hygiene and handwashing facilities, cleaner household fuels and technologies for cooking and heating, and more efficient fossil fuel pricing policies.
Together, the measures address several major threats to public health, from extreme heat and unsafe water to household air pollution and the wider health consequences of fossil fuel consumption. Heat-health warning systems are identified as particularly cost-effective. The report estimates that every US$1 invested in these systems could generate US$835 in benefits, reflecting their ability to use existing infrastructure to help prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths at relatively low cost.
Access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities is also essential to protecting communities from climate-related health risks. As climate shocks place increasing pressure on water supplies and essential services, resilient infrastructure can help maintain access to basic necessities and protect public health. Meanwhile, cleaner household cooking and heating technologies can reduce exposure to harmful indoor air pollution while contributing to lower emissions.
Fossil fuel pricing could deliver the greatest gains
Among the six measures assessed, efficient fossil fuel pricing policies are projected to deliver the largest overall benefits. According to the report, policies that remove inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and appropriately tax these fuels could prevent 1.2 million deaths annually. They could also generate an estimated US$3 trillion in economic welfare benefits and US$5.4 trillion in fiscal benefits each year. These policies can help reduce the health damage associated with fossil fuel use while generating public revenue that governments can potentially direct towards essential services and development priorities.
The report also highlights the wider economic case for investment in climate and health measures. Across five of the six interventions, every US$1 invested is estimated to yield US$24 in benefits. The WHO notes that the gains could be particularly significant in low- and middle-income countries, where climate-related health risks and resource constraints often place additional pressure on communities and public services.
A call for stronger action ahead of COP31
The report comes as governments prepare for the next round of international climate negotiations at COP31, where countries are expected to discuss their climate commitments and approaches to reducing emissions. With extreme weather events and other climate-related shocks continuing to threaten communities worldwide, the WHO argues that many of the resulting health impacts can be prevented through solutions that are already available.
However, achieving these benefits will require coordinated action across the health sector and other areas that influence people’s well-being, including energy, water, sanitation and economic policy. The organisation is urging governments, development partners and financing institutions to use the report’s findings to guide investment and expand the implementation of effective climate and health interventions.
Making health central to climate policy
The report reinforces the importance of treating climate change not only as an environmental challenge but also as a major public health and economic issue. Investing in early-warning systems, resilient water and sanitation infrastructure, cleaner household energy and effective fossil fuel policies can help countries reduce preventable deaths while supporting long-term development.
For governments facing competing demands on public resources, the findings offer a strong economic argument for prioritising measures that protect both people and the planet. As countries prepare for COP31, the WHO’s message is clear: proven climate solutions can deliver substantial benefits for public health and national economies, but governments must act at scale to realise their full potential.
