As the global climate crisis escalates, its devastating effects on human health and well-being will accelerate. No one anywhere in the world is beyond its reach, although millions of people – especially women, children, the elderly, ethnic minorities, people with pre-existing health conditions and those living in poverty – are among the most vulnerable. Changing climate conditions are increasing the number of heat-related illnesses and deaths; changing patterns of infectious disease transmission, increasing the likelihood of deadly disease outbreaks and pandemics; deterioration of maternal and child health outcomes; and intensifying the health impacts of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, wildfires and windstorms. Climate change puts a significant strain on healthcare systems, simultaneously increasing the demand for healthcare services and at the same time worsening the system's ability to respond. The climate crisis is also rapidly deteriorating access to basic human needs such as food security, safe drinking water and sanitation, and clean air. As a result, according to new data from the World Bank, a warmer climate could lead to at least 21 million more deaths by 2050 from just five health risks: extreme heat, stunting, diarrhea, malaria and dengue fever.