Key Takeaways

Deaths related to climate change continue to increase

Heat-related deaths have risen 23% since the 1990s, claiming 546,000 lives a year

Deaths from air pollution also are increasing, thanks to wildfires and burning of fossil fuels

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Deaths from heat and air pollution have surged as climate change continues apace, a new report says.

Worldwide, the rate of heat-related deaths has risen by 23% since the 1990s, and now claim 546,000 lives each year, researchers reported today in The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change .

Likewise, a record 154,000 deaths occurred due to air pollution from wildfire smoke in 2024 alone, researchers reported.

Another 2.5 million deaths a year are attributable to the air pollution created

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