Climate change could reduce average human lifespan by six months

Climate change could reduce average human life expectancy by up to six months, particularly affecting women and people in poorer countries, according to a study published this Thursday.

The study, published in the scientific journal PLOS Climate, shows that just one degree Celsius (ºC) rise in global temperature is associated with a reduction in average human life expectancy of about five months and one week.

According to study author Amit Roy, a researcher from institutions in Bangladesh and the US, taking temperature as well as rainfall into account, average life expectancy could be reduced by six months.

Temperature and precipitation, two telltale signs of climate change, cause a range of public health problems, from direct ones, such as floods or heat waves, to indirect ones, such as respiratory and mental illness.

Although these effects are noticeable and well documented, existing research has not yet established a direct link between climate change and life expectancy.

The author assessed average temperature, precipitation and life expectancy data for 191 countries between 1940 and 2020, using per capita GDP to control for stark differences between countries, and created a composite climate change index, the first of its kind, that combines the influence of the two variables, temperature and precipitation, to assess the global severity of climate change.

The global threat that climate change poses to the well-being of billions of people underscores the urgent need to treat it as a public health crisis, says Amit Roy.

The author emphasizes that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and proactive initiatives are essential to preserving life expectancy and protecting public health around the world.