More Than 200 Health Organisations Warn Fossil Fuels Damage Health From Birth, Urge Action Ahead Of COP30

Last Updated:September 16, 2025, 20:08 IST

The report comes ahead of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil from November 10 to 21, where over 195 countries are expected to discuss climate action

The conclusions rely on available scientific evidence, as well as personal testimonials and case studies documented by experts to record the grave consequences of fossil fuels on human health, from pregnancy and pre-birth to old age. (Representational image)

As increasing fossil fuel emissions heat up the atmosphere and cause extreme weather, a new study shows how these fossil fuels—coal, gas, and oil—are also damaging human health long-term, from birth to old age. Led by doctors from more than 125 countries, the report stresses that impacts are far-reaching—though symptoms may take time to appear.

The report, “Cradle to Grave—The Health Toll of Fossil Fuels and The Imperative for A Just Transition", was compiled by the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA), a consortium of 200 health professional and health civil society organisations and networks from over 125 countries around the world. The conclusions rely on available scientific evidence, as well as personal testimonials and case studies documented by experts to record the grave consequences of fossil fuels on human health, from pregnancy and pre-birth to old age. The final report was reviewed by 15 experts from multiple domains.

“Fossil fuels—coal, gas, and oil—are a direct assault on health, harming us at every stage of their lifecycle and every stage of our lives, from the womb to old age, driving miscarriages, childhood leukaemia, asthma, cancer, and mental health crises," said lead author Shweta Narayan, campaign lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA). “Not only are they a climate problem, fossil fuels are driving a global public health emergency."

The data draws attention to cases of children whose parents lived closer to a fracked gas well when the child was in utero and had more than twice the odds of developing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. It also highlighted how exposure to traffic-related air pollution is associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes, with children far more vulnerable due to their faster breathing rates and developing organs.

The report was released ahead of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), which is scheduled to be held in Brazil from November 10 to 21, and the doctors urged the governments to respond with urgency. “An appropriate response would see governments halting new oil, gas, and coal projects, setting clear timelines to phase out existing projects, and ending the shocking $1.3 trillion in direct subsidies that keep this industry afloat," said Dr Jeni Miller, executive director, GCHA. “COP30 is the moment to act—not only for the climate, but also for people’s health and futures."

The report includes case studies from countries including India, where people are evidently suffering the impacts of the use of fossil fuels, including the Jharia Coal Seam Fires, as well as India’s eastern coast, which is frequently hit by intensifying cyclones. “In Korba, living near coal mines means living with disease. Children and elders struggle with asthma, bronchitis, and TB; families face birth defects, skin infections, and stomach illnesses from contaminated water. Asthma in children is alarmingly high. Coal doesn’t just generate electricity—it generates suffering," said Neha Mahant, health worker, Korba, Chhattisgarh.

“The age of fossil fuels has poisoned our air and broken our health. We must choose a just transition without delay in order to safeguard life, restore justice, and secure a healthier future for all," said Christiana Figueres, global climate leader, architect of the Paris Agreement, and former UN climate chief.

According to the Energy Agency (IEA), global fossil CO2 emissions reached a new record high in 2024—a 0.8% increase from 2023. The report highlighted that fossil fuels at each phase—extraction, refining, transport, storage, combustion, and disposal—introduce harmful pollutants into the environment, many of which are long-lasting and bioaccumulative. “It’s crucial to note here that many health harms remain dangerously understudied—often unfolding over decades, by which time the damage is irreversible," it concluded.

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