The Cost of Inaction

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - Climate change is significantly impacting human health, with increasing frequency of extreme weather events, emergence of infectious diseases, and disruptions to food systems. The health impacts are expected to worsen over time, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) which will face a disproportionate burden due to poverty and weak healthcare systems [30][43][15] - The report emphasizes the urgent need for action to address the health crisis arising from climate change, highlighting that the economic cost of inaction could reach between USD 8.6 trillion and USD 15.4 trillion by 2050 under different socioeconomic scenarios [36][37] - The analysis covers 69 LMICs, representing 96% of the total population of all LMICs, and provides estimates for health impacts and economic costs associated with climate change for the years 2026-2030, 2026-2050, and 2026-2100 [33][46] Summary by Sections Introduction - Climate change is accelerating health impacts, including heat-related illnesses and vector-borne diseases, with LMICs expected to face significant increases in morbidity and damage to health facilities [43][44] Methods - The report utilizes climate scenarios from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) to project health impacts and economic costs, focusing on selected health risks such as extreme heat, waterborne diseases, and vector-borne diseases [46][50] Impacts of Climate Change on Health - Between 2026 and 2050, climate change is projected to cause between 4.1 billion and 5.2 billion cases of health impacts across LMICs, with deaths potentially reaching between 14.5 million and 15.6 million by 2050 [35][36] - Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are expected to bear the brunt of these health impacts, with SSA projected to experience approximately 71% of all cases and nearly half of all deaths caused by climate change [37][40] Economic Cost of Inaction - The economic cost of health impacts due to climate change is projected to reach between USD 11.0 trillion and USD 20.8 trillion under different scenarios, translating to 0.7% to 1.3% of GDP in LMICs [36][37] Policy Implications and Future Directions - The report calls for urgent, transformative action to strengthen health systems and limit the impacts of climate change, advocating for a health systems approach rather than a focus on specific diseases [16][40]