A recent study, published in the open access journal PLOS Climate by Amit Roy of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and The New School for Social Research, USA, suggests that the cost of climate change could be as significant as six months off the average human age.
Analyzing data from 191 countries between 1940 and 2020, Roy evaluated the correlation between temperature, rainfall, and life expectancy, controlling for economic differences using GDP per capita.
The study found that for every 1°C increase in global temperature, there is an associated decrease in average human life expectancy of about 0.44 years, which roughly translates to a loss of about 5 months and 1 week.
Furthermore, a 10-point increase in a composite climate change index, which factors in temperature and rainfall, could lead to a six-month reduction in average life expectancy. Women and those in developing countries are expected to be disproportionately affected.
Dr Roy hopes that the introduction of this composite climate change index will standardize global discussions on the issue, offering a publicly accessible metric and fostering cooperation between nations to tackle the effects of climate change .
The study underlines the importance of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to a changing environment.
It suggests the need for local studies that focus on specific severe weather events such as wildfires, tsunamis, and floods, which cannot be fully captured by temperature and rainfall analysis alone.
Adds Dr. Roy: “The global threat of climate change to the well-being of billions underlines the urgent need to tackle it as a public health crisis, as revealed by this study, emphasizing that mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and proactive. initiatives are essential to protect life expectancy and protect the health of populations around the world.”
