Amman, Nov. 4 (Petra) - Implementing six measures to counter the health impacts of climate change could prevent 1.6 million deaths annually, generate USD3.9 trillion in economic benefits, and yield USD5.4 trillion in annual financial gains for governments, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday.

In a report released ahead of the COP31 climate conference, the WHO outlined six cost-effective actions: heat-health warning systems, climate-resilient drinking-water services, basic sanitation services, hygiene and handwashing facilities, cleaner household fuels and technologies for cooking and heating, and efficient fossil fuel pricing policies.

The report noted that the six measures could also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 16.7 billion metric tons.

"The climate crisis is a health crisis, but much of the harm it causes can be prevented with tools we already have," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted.

"This report shows that scaling up proven, affordable actions could save millions of lives, with the greatest gains in the countries that need them most. As governments prepare for the next round of climate negotiations, protecting health must be at the centre of climate action." //Petra// HA