Climate change is taking an increasing toll on Bangladesh’s health and economy, with heat exposure alone causing an estimated loss of US$17.5 billion in potential earnings in 2025, according to the 2026 Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change.
Heatwave exposure among infants and older people has more than doubled compared with 1986–2005, while human-caused fine particulate air pollution was responsible for an estimated 239,000 deaths in 2023.
The report highlights growing threats to health and livelihoods in Bangladesh as the report’s authors call for climate change to be formally recognised and addressed as a global health emergency, urging governments to place health at the centre of climate decisions, from emissions reduction targets to funding priorities.
The tenth annual report on Lancet Countdown, subtitled A decade of escalating health harms and a decisive moment for all, finds that many climate-related health risks and harms grew faster during 2016-2025 than during the preceding decade.
The Bangladesh findings were presented at a national launch at BRAC Centre Inn in Dhaka on Sunday, organised by the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER), BRAC University, with technical support from the Climate Change and Health Promotion Unit (CCHPU), Health Services Division, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Shouro Dasgupta delivered the keynote presentation.
The event was moderated by Dr. Iqbal Kabir, Coordinator of the Climate Change and Health Promotion Unit (CCHPU) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Md. Golam Rabbani, Director, C3ER, BRAC University provided his welcome remarks.
He stated that over the past two decades, we have discussed climate change largely through disasters such as cyclones, storm surges and salinity intrusion. But their consequences for people’s health have often received less attention.
“Bangladesh’s climate policies recognise health as a priority alongside agriculture and water. Yet implementation has not received the attention and resources it needs.”
“The urgency is clear. Heat stress is affecting farmers, outdoor workers and urban communities, while dengue has become a recurring public health concern. These risks affect people’s health, livelihoods and ability to work safely.”
“Today’s report brings evidence to help us respond. We must use it to strengthen prevention, early warning and health-system preparedness, and turn our policy commitments into practical action.”
Dr. Shouro Dasgupta, Environmental Economist, Fondazione CMCC and Visiting Senior Fellow, Grantham Research delivered the keynote presentation.
Bangladesh lost an average of more than 26 billion potential labour hours annually between 2016 and 2025 because of heat exposure, 71 per cent higher than the annual average in the 1990s, he added.
According to the report, during 2021–2025, infants and people aged over 65 experienced an average of 7.6 and 7.2 heatwave days annually - up 162 per cent and 136 per cent, respectively, from 1986–2005.
The average annual monetised value of heat-related mortality among people aged over 65 reached US$3.8 billion during 2021–2025, equivalent to approximately 216,000 average annual incomes and 495 per cent higher than in 2000–2004.
Air pollution’s toll highlights the need for cleaner energy
Deaths linked to human-caused PM₂.₅ air pollution rose 40 per cent in Bangladesh between 2016 and 2023, with fossil fuels contributing to 37.5 per cent of these deaths in 2023.
Household air pollution was separately associated with 77,500 deaths that year, down from 90,700 in 2016. The monetised value of premature mortality due to air pollution reached US$77.6 billion - equivalent to 16.4 per cent of GDP.
Yet Bangladesh’s energy system became 9.9 per cent more carbon-intensive between 2016 and 2023, while net fossil fuel subsidies reached US$5.3 billion in 2024; equivalent to 52.9 per cent of the national health budget.
Md. Ziaul Haque, Additional Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE), said the Lancet Countdown 2026 report provides important evidence on climate-related health risks, particularly for vulnerable communities.
He said Bangladesh must translate its NDC and National Adaptation Plan commitments into action. The report’s estimate of 239,000 deaths from human-caused particulate air pollution highlights the urgent need to reduce pollution and fossil fuel use.
Dr Atiq Rahman, Executive Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies (CSD), said climate change and health are directly linked. Rising temperature is severely affecting working people, while mothers and children are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related health risks.
“Unfortunately, we have delayed taking appropriate action. Had we acted earlier, we could have better protected people from these impacts,” he said.
Stronger support needed for health adaptation
Bangladesh reported that its national meteorological and hydrological services provide climate information to the health sector, which can support preparedness for and responses to climate-related risks.
The country also referenced climate–health links in its 2025 United Nations General Debate statement for the second consecutive year.
Health-relevant content appeared in two of the five climate-related legislative documents assessed that year.
Globally, health adaptation needs quantified by 48 developing countries amount to at least US$3.3 billion annually, yet only US$1.1 billion was committed in 2024; around one-third of those stated needs. Finance and human resources were identified as the leading barriers to implementing Health National Adaptation Plans.
Professor Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown, based at University College London, said climate-related health harms were growing faster than the global response, despite progress in clean energy and health-system preparedness.
Dr. Ainun Nishat, Emeritus Professor at Center of Climate Change and Environmental Research, BRAC University stated that the Lancet Countdown provides an important evidence base, but our response must reflect local realities.
Many people have no choice but to work outdoors, even during extreme heat. If global temperatures continue to rise at the current rate, the average temperature could increase by 3.5°C by the end of this century.
“Our priority must now be to implement the Health National Adaptation Plan, with particular attention to food security, nutrition and vector-borne diseases.”
“Accurate, locally relevant data is essential to understanding the health impacts of climate change. Bangladesh is a small country, yet temperatures and health risks vary considerably across regions. We need evidence that reflects these differences and helps identify where action is most needed.”
“He stressed that reducing fossil fuel consumption is essential, while expanding renewable energy could help curb pollution. He also expressed concern over the coal mine, warning that the high sulphur content of coal could increase the risk of acid rain. Climate change is also accelerating the spread of infectious diseases, he said, adding that the lack of visible progress in Bangladesh in addressing these challenges is particularly concerning.”
Tahrim Ariba Chaudhury, Global Climate and Health Lead at GSCC, said climate-related health costs, including families’ out-of-pocket medical expenses, must be central to policy discussions at COP31.
She stressed the need to make renewable energy an attractive and profitable investment in Bangladesh to support a sustainable energy transition and protect public health.