Climate Crisis: Heat, Smoke, and Hunger on the Rise

Rising Deaths from Extreme Heat

• 23% increase in deaths caused by extreme heat over the past few decades
• 546,000 people die each year due to extreme heat

Wildfire Smoke Takes a Toll

• 154,000 deaths in 2024 alone from air pollution caused by wildfires

Fossil Fuels Worsen the Situation

• 2.5 million deaths annually from air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels
• Despite known risks, some governments are backing away from climate change commitments

Record-Breaking Heat in 2024

• Hottest year on record globally
• 16 extra days of dangerous heat due to climate change

Heat Waves in the U.S.

• 14 days of extreme heat on average, with 10 of those days attributed to climate change
• 11,500 deaths from wildfire smoke, nearly 50% more than the average from 2003 to 2012

Food Shortages and Droughts

• 123 million more people faced food shortages in 2023 compared to the average from 1981 to 2010
• Nearly a third of U.S. land experienced at least one month of extreme drought annually from 2020 to 2024

Continued Investment in Fossil Fuels

• Top 40 lenders invested a record $611 billion in the fossil fuel sector in 2024, a 29% increase from 2023

Urgent Need for Action

• Experts warn of overwhelmed health systems and disaster response teams
• 8 billion people at risk if reliance on fossil fuels continues

Call to Action

• Adapt to climate change
• Reduce dependence on fossil fuels