Countries and Cities Show Significant Response to Climate Change, Report Suggests

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According to the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, which involves the University of Exeter, countries and cities are responding to the growing threat that global warming poses.

The finding came from the Lancet's comprehensive yearly analysis tracking progress across 41 key indicators, demonstrating what action to meet Paris Agreement targets—or business as usual—means for human health. The project is a collaboration between 120 experts from 35 institution, which includes The University of Exeter.

The research has shown that half of countries and 69% of cities involved have reported taking action to reduce the risk that climate change poses, with concerns for the impact of climate change on public health and health services being a key motivator for this action.

Senior Lecturer and research lead, Dr Karyn Morrissey said: “It’s great to be able to report that countries and cities are taking action to reduce climate change and recognise it’s impact on human health. The report shows the severe negative health impacts, worsening crop failures and extreme weather events that face the next generation if we carry on with ‘business-as-usual’. However, this is only the early stages of what is a difficult problem to tackle and much more effort is needed if we are to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement.”

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