Skip to content
Lancet Countdown:
Tracking Progress
on Health and
Climate Change

2024 Report: Out now!

The health threats of climate change have reached record-breaking levels

Read the full report now; the most up-to-date assessment of the links between health and climate change.  

2024 Report  Visual summary

Watch the launch event

Featuring distinguished experts in health and climate change

Watch our presentation on the latest report findings, and discussion on the implications and next steps.

Launch event recording

Our Work

What does the Lancet Countdown do?

We work to ensure that health is at the centre of how decision makers understand and respond to climate change. Through high-quality scientific data, we work to inform policies that can maximise the health benefits of climate action, and enable a world in which all populations can thrive.

Our Funding

Who funds the Lancet Countdown?

The Lancet Countdown operates with strategic and financial support from Wellcome, a politically and financially independent global charitable foundation.

Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health issues facing everyone. Its Climate and Health program seeks to generate the health evidence for policy action that protects health from climate change.

Our Background

What is the Lancet Countdown’s history?

The 2015 Lancet Commission concluded that ‘tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century’. In 2016 the Lancet Countdown was formed to provide a global academic collaboration with the ability to track and monitor progress on health and climate change, and engage policymakers and health professionals in maximising this opportunity.

Our Expertise

Who contributes to the Lancet Countdown?

Our work is led by almost 300 health professionals, scientists and researchers, at more than 50 leading academic centres and UN agencies across the world. The collaboration brings together world-class experts from a range of disciplines, including health and epidemiology, climate science, engineering, agriculture, transport, economics, and social and political sciences.

Our Regional Centres

The Lancet Countdown is made up of individuals and organisations from all over the world, that are committed to changing the way we think about climate change and health. Our Regional Centres in Asia, Europe, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and South America expand on our global data monitoring and analysis, looking at the local and national implications on public health.

SEE All regions

Our News
and Events
Quotes
Quotes

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization

“The continuing expansion of fossil fuels is a death sentence to millions. There is no excuse for a persistent delay in climate action. Temperature rise must be limited to 1.5°C to avert the worst of climate change, save millions of lives, and help protect the health of everyone on earth.”

Quotes

Rt Hon Julia Gillard, Chair of Wellcome and 27th Prime Minister of Australia

“As the world faces record-breaking temperatures and major climatic shifts, it is vital that we have an accurate picture of how and where climate change is harming people’s health. The Lancet Countdown’s work is the essential barometer of this, and it also shows us how and where we can protect health by tackling climate change and its consequences. Wellcome is proud to support the Lancet Countdown, and together we hope to continue to drive lasting change to protect the health of people now and in the future.”

Quotes

Dr Maria Neira, Director for Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization

“WHO is very pleased to contribute to this critical work, highlighting trends, and playing a key role in shaping urgent responses to address the pressing challenges posed by the health and climate crisis.”

Supported by

Wellcome is a financially and politically independent global charitable foundation established in 1936. It supports science to solve the urgent health issues facing everyone, bringing together expertise across science innovation, and society to develop solutions to address three of the biggest health challenges facing humanity – climate change, infectious disease and mental health. The Climate and Health program seeks to generate the health evidence for policy action that protects health from climate change.

Learn more: www.wellcome.org

Founded by Thomas Wakley in 1823, The Lancet began as an independent, international weekly general medical journal with the vision that it should drive social and political change through advancing medical research and science for the greater good. Since its founding, the journal has evolved to include over 20 titles that are part of The Lancet Group while retaining the core belief that medicine must serve society, that knowledge must transform society, and that the best science must lead to better lives.

Learn more: www.thelancet.com

Collaborating institutions
This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site. Switch to a production site key to remove this banner.