Maybe The Bugs Will Kill Us Before The Fires Do

“Failure to tackle drug-resistant infections will lead to at least 10 million extra deaths a year and cost the global economy up to $100tn (£64tn) by 2050…. The stark figures, published on Thursday, and believed to be the first to quantify the potential impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — drug-resistant infections or superbugs — will be used to make the case to global leaders that urgent action is needed. To put the figures in context there are currently 8.2 million deaths a year from cancer and annual global GDP stands at $70tn to $75tn, with the UK figure around $3tn. Former Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O’Neill, who chaired the report, said AMR represents a more certain threat than climate change in the short term.”