The Human Cost of One Degree with Prof. Ollie Jay
5/9/202633 min
Professor Ollie Jay, a leading expert in heat and health, returns to Shirtloads to discuss the growing toll of climate change on human wellbeing and global economics. Insights drawn from the latest Lancet Countdown report show that over half a million people die from heat-related causes each year, and a million more from fossil fuel pollution - deaths that are largely preventable.
Rising temperatures are quietly reshaping our daily lives, from reducing physical and cognitive productivity, to costing the global economy and estimated trillion dollars annually. But it's not all bleak - Professor Jay highlights that meaningful change is within reach. With the right political action and long-term interventions, we can protect both public health and economic stability - the solutions are already in our hands.
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First 90 secondsDr Karl Kruszelnicki· Host0:00
I'm Dr. Carl, coming to you from the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. I acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first Australians and traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. [upbeat music] Good day. Shirtless Science, Dr. Carl here from the University of Sydney, talking about how global warming and heat is having a major effect on humanity in terms of human health and big bucks. And I'm lucky to have here Professor Ollie Jay. Is that the correct pronunciation?
Ollie Jay· Guest0:36
It is the correct pronunciation, yes.
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki· Host0:38
We'll just start off with three things. Number one, so there's a report from The Lancet. Uh, here it is, the 2025 report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, and this is bigger than grand final football, right? And just three takeaways. Firstly, over half a million people die from heat each year, and, and so you're kind of one of the gods of heat.
Ollie Jay· Guest1:03
Uh, expert, I suppose, yeah.
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki· Host1:05
Yeah. So firstly, worldwide- Yeah ... due to climate change, over half a p- million people die each year from heat.
Ollie Jay· Guest1:11
Right.
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki· Host1:11
Number two, from the burning of fossil fuels, two and a half million people die. Uh, number three, in the USA alone, the, uh, combination of the heat, et cetera, caused a loss of productivity in the USA