22 September 2014: The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report, titled ‘Quantitative risk assessment of the effects of climate change on selected causes of death, 2030s and 2050s,’ which focuses on future climate change risks to health.

The 2014 report updates and develops the WHO assessment that was first published in 2000. It addresses a wider range of health impacts and projections for future years. Taking into account a subset of possible health impacts and assuming continued economic growth and health progress, the report concludes that climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths annually from 2030-2050. Of those deaths, 38,000 are due to heat exposure in elderly people, 48,000 result from diarrhea, 60,000 are caused by malaria, and 95,000 are due to childhood malnutrition.

The report projects a dramatic decline in child mortality associated with declining climate change impacts from child malnutrition and diarrheal disease from 2030-2050, whereas deaths related to heat exposure are projected to increase by the 2050s. The report finds that impacts are greatest under a low economic growth scenario due to higher rates of mortality projected in low- and middle-income countries. It further projects that by 2050, South Asia will experience the greatest impacts of climate change on mortality. Results also indicate that climate change will have significant impacts on child health by the 2030s.

The report consists of nine chapters, including on heat-related mortality, coastal flood mortality, diarrheal disease, malaria, dengue, undernutrition, and future worlds and scenario data. [Publication: Quantitative Risk Assessment of the Effects of Climate Change on Selected Causes of Death, 2030s and 2050s]