Climate Change Linked to 710,000 Heat-Related Deaths in 2023, Declared Global Health Emergency in New Lancet Report

A new Lancet Countdown report estimates approximately 710,000 heat-related deaths occurred worldwide in 2023, marking the highest value in the analyzed series. The report attributes 71.5% of these deaths to human-caused climate change and calls for climate change to be formally recognized as a global health emergency. High temperatures exacerbate pre-existing conditions, straining the heart and kidneys as the body attempts to cool itself.