A new report from the Global Climate and Health Alliance highlights that fossil fuels harm human health throughout their entire lifecycle, from extraction to combustion, affecting people from before birth to old age.

Pollution from oil, coal, and gas has been linked to numerous health issues, including miscarriages, asthma, cancer, strokes, and heart disease, with communities near coal mines and fracking sites facing the highest risks.

Children exposed to fossil fuel pollution experience higher rates of asthma and leukemia, while older adults are at increased risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and early death.

The report criticizes industry influence on climate negotiations, noting increased lobbying at COP29, and urges banning fossil fuel lobbying and disinformation to protect health and climate goals.

Drawing on data from multiple countries, the report emphasizes the global scope of fossil fuel-related health problems and advocates for a transition to cleaner energy sources to safeguard public health.

It calls for a just transition that includes environmental remediation of existing fossil fuel sites by polluting companies, emphasizing accountability for health protection.

Testimonies from health professionals and communities reveal how fossil fuel extraction leads to displacement, environmental degradation, water contamination, and social injustice, especially in vulnerable regions like Mozambique, South Africa, and India.

The report criticizes the $7 trillion in global fossil fuel subsidies in 2022, which mask the true costs of fossil fuels, including healthcare expenses and climate damages, despite record-high emissions.

It debunks the myth that fossil fuels are the cheapest energy source, highlighting the economic burden on public health and the environment caused by subsidies and unpriced damages.

The report urges political leaders to recognize fossil fuel dependence as a driver of disease and inequality, calling for urgent action at COP30 to ban lobbying, end subsidies, and promote policies for a healthier, more equitable future.

It advocates for halting new fossil fuel projects, phasing out existing ones with clear timelines, and redirecting subsidies toward public health and clean energy investments.

Fossil fuel-driven climate change causes extreme weather events like hurricanes and wildfires, which worsen health risks by damaging infrastructure and causing respiratory problems.

Health impacts from fossil fuels disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples and low-income populations, exacerbating existing health inequalities worldwide.