The new Lancet Countdown report on China reveals that 8 of 13 climate and health risk indicators have reached historic highs; the launch in Beijing showcases scalable approaches for resilient, low-carbon urban development.
/PRNewswire/ — As 8 of 13 critical climate and health risk indicators reach record highs in China, the Lancet Countdown 2025 China Report, released today by Tsinghua University, offers valuable lessons for urban resilience and low-carbon development.
Marking World Cities Day with the theme “Empowering Cities to Act Synergistically”, the report provides unprecedented analysis at the city level, revealing a critical gap between national and provincial assessments and the distinct risks faced by individual cities. “As climate red alerts flash everywhere, we must combat public desensitization and provide cities with targeted solutions,” said Professor Cai Wenjia, director of the Lancet Countdown Asia Center at Tsinghua University. “Our analysis shows that health-focused climate action is not an economic drag, but a growth accelerator.”
The main findings with regional implications are:
- Asian countries now experience an average of 20 heatwave days per year (2022-2024), with climate change responsible for 16 of them.
- Public risk fatigue emerges as climate warnings become constant, threatening the effectiveness of the response
- Every city faces a distinct climate and health crisis – national averages mask critical local vulnerabilities
- Scientific research does not meet the most urgent needs of cities, and economic solutions remain rare
- Health-focused climate action accelerates, not hinders, economic growth
The report identifies cities as both the epicenter of climate-related health risks and the driver of solutions. It presents five priority actions, ranging from developing population-centered early warning systems to integrating health into smart city planning.
Experts from Singapore, India, Australia and China discussed practical urban solutions. The event also highlighted new funding avenues. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank highlighted its emphasis on health- and nature-friendly infrastructure, while the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network introduced its Climate x Health Lighthouse Fund, Asia’s first philanthropic fund to promote adaptation innovation.
“The urban data in this report is exactly what local governments need to move from planning to action,” said Dr Sandro Demaio, Director of the WHO Asia-Pacific Center for Environment and Health.
The full report is available at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00230-0/fulltext