Climate change is leaving a profound mark on the health of Latin Americans. The heatwaves, fires, and vector-borne diseases intensify each year. In just two decades, heat-related deaths increased by 103%, according to a recent scientific report.
During 2024, the region experienced an average temperature increase of 1 °C compared to the beginning of the century. In countries like Bolivia, Venezuela, and Mexico, the increases were even greater. Children and the elderly, the most vulnerable groups, face much higher exposure to heatwaves.
The impact is not only on health. Climate disasters cost Latin America more than 19 billion dollars in 2024. Heat-related labor losses amounted to 52 billion, while deaths from high temperatures implied an economic loss of 855 million per year.
Warming also expands the territory of diseases like dengue. The Aedes aegypti mosquito now finds 66% more favorable conditions than 70 years ago. In Bolivia, the climate suitability for its survival grew by 135%, and in Argentina, outbreaks reached historic levels.
Heat, pollution, and health: a growing threat
Extreme heat is not just uncomfortable: it can be deadly. It increases cases of dehydration, heat strokes, and heart or respiratory failures. High temperatures alter the body’s functioning and pose a risk especially to the elderly and chronically ill.
The forest fires worsen the problem. Increasingly frequent, they release toxic particles that damage the lungs and heart. Between 2003 and 2024, the days with extreme fire risk grew by 26% in the region. In Chile, the increase was more than 100%.
At the same time, infections caused by bacteria like non-cholera vibrio expand, causing diarrhea and skin lesions. Coastal areas with favorable conditions for its transmission increased by 6.7% compared to the nineties.
Adapting to survive
Adaptation is advancing, but slowly. Only nine of the 17 countries in the region coordinate meteorological services with the health system. In universities, less than 20% of future public health professionals receive training on climate change.
The use of clean energy is growing, but remains insufficient. Although renewable generation increased by 9% in the last decade, 79% of Latin Americans still depend on fossil fuels for cooking. This worsens air quality and contributes to global warming.
Latin America faces a silent emergency. The temperature increase already threatens lives, economies, and ecosystems. The region needs urgent and coordinated responses to halt the advance of a crisis that is more than environmental; it is a crisis of human health.
