Climate change is increasingly taking a devastating toll on human health. The latest report published by the WHO suggests that the world is warming at a very rapid pace and the response to this phenomenon has failed. The 2025 report on Health and Climate Change, produced in collaboration with the World Health Organization, finds that 12 of the 20 key indicators tracking health threats have reached record levels, showing how climate inaction is costing lives, straining health systems and damaging economies.
Heat-related mortality rates have increased by 23% since 1990, bringing the total number of heat-related deaths to an average of 546,000 per year. In the past year, an individual was exposed to at least 16 to 20 dangerously hot days. Heat exposure caused the loss of 640 billion potential work hours by 2024, with productivity losses equivalent to US$1.09 trillion.
The costs of heat-related deaths among older adults reached 261 billion US dollars. According to the WHO, if no measures are taken, Europe, of which Albania is a part, will face hotter days, directly affecting the health of the population and the country’s economy. As can be seen on the map, most European countries are in red, indicating that temperatures are increasing. Year after year, Albania is experiencing hotter days that have increased by at least 2-3 degrees, causing forest fires. Also, as a result of the heat, European countries are also experiencing hotter nights, leading to reduced sleep.