Claim

“A new World Health Organization report exaggerates heat deaths while hiding that cold deaths have fallen by much more than heat deaths have risen.

That’s not science- it’s the suppression of inconvenient data to manufacture a crisis.”

Verdict: MISLEADING

The claim mixes a true scientific finding with an unsupported allegation.

Scientific research shows that cold has historically caused more temperature-related deaths worldwide than heat, and several studies including one published in The Lancet Planetary Health found that declining cold-related mortality has offset some increases in heat-related mortality in recent decades.

However, there is no evidence that the World Health Organization (WHO) has hidden, suppressed, or misrepresented those findings. WHO publications acknowledge the health impacts of both heat and cold while emphasizing that climate change is increasing exposure to dangerous heat and raising heat-related health risks.

What the Evidence Shows: Cold has historically caused more temperature-related deaths

One of the largest studies on temperature-related mortality, published in The Lancet Planetary Health by Zhao et al. (2021), estimated that approximately 5.08 million deaths annually between 2000 and 2019 were associated with non-optimal temperatures.

The researchers found that:

• Cold accounted for the majority of temperature-related deaths worldwide.
• Heat accounted for a smaller share of overall temperature-related mortality.

Between 2000 and 2019:

• Cold-related mortality generally declined;
• Heat-related mortality increased in many regions as temperatures rose.

The study also concluded that although declining cold deaths outweighed increasing heat deaths globally during the study period, heat-related mortality rose significantly in many regions, particularly where warming has been greatest.

These findings are publicly available, widely cited, and discussed throughout climate-health literature.

Rating: TRUE

Source

Zhao Q., et al. (2021). Global, regional, and national burden of mortality associated with non-optimal ambient temperatures from 2000 to 2019. The Lancet Planetary Health.

WHO is not claiming that heat kills more people than cold

The claim implies that WHO says heat has already become the leading temperature-related killer worldwide.

That is inaccurate.

WHO does not state that heat currently causes more deaths globally than cold.

Instead, WHO warns that:

• Climate change is increasing the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves;
• Heat is among the deadliest weather-related hazards;
• Older adults, infants, outdoor workers, and people with chronic illnesses face higher risks;
• Without adaptation, rising temperatures are expected to increase heat-related illness and deaths.

WHO estimates that approximately 489,000 heat-related deaths occur globally each year and reports that heat-related mortality among adults over age 65 increased by about 85% between 2000–2004 and 2017–2021.

These statements do not contradict research showing that cold has historically caused more deaths overall. They describe different indicators:

• One measures the historical burden of all temperature-related mortality;
• The other focuses specifically on the growing health risks from extreme heat.

Rating: SUPPORTED

Sources

• World Health Organization. Heat and Health.
• World Health Organization. Climate Change and Health.

Is WHO suppressing evidence?

The social media post alleges that WHO deliberately hides declining cold-related mortality.

No evidence supports that allegation.

WHO publications discuss health impacts associated with:

• extreme heat
• extreme cold
• floods
• storms
• droughts
• wildfires
• changing disease patterns.

Likewise, scientific studies documenting declining cold mortality remain freely available through major journals and are regularly cited by researchers and international organizations.

No credible evidence shows WHO has concealed or suppressed these findings. Instead, the claim selectively highlights one part of the scientific evidence while omitting the broader context.

Rating: UNSUPPORTED

Why the Claim is Misleading

The post assumes that because cold currently causes more temperature-related deaths globally, concern about increasing heat is exaggerated.

That conclusion does not follow from the available evidence.

Public health experts evaluate both: the current burden of disease, and whether a hazard is becoming more frequent, more intense, or affecting more people over time.

Climate change is increasing:

• The number of hot days;
• The intensity and duration of heatwaves;
• Population exposure to dangerous heat.

Even if cold-related mortality remains higher globally today, rising heat exposure represents an important and growing public health threat.

This is the position reflected by WHO, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and numerous peer-reviewed studies.

Relevance to the Cordillera

Climate change is already affecting the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Government agencies and scientific assessments identify the region as vulnerable to:

• Heavier rainfall that increases landslide risk;
• Stronger tropical cyclones affecting Northern Luzon;
• Prolonged dry periods that reduce water availability;
• Agricultural losses affecting highland crops;
• Increasing heat stress among farmers and outdoor workers.

These hazards threaten livelihoods that depend heavily on mountain agriculture, forests, and watershed resources.

Climate risks in the Cordillera therefore include both extremes: Heavier rainfall and landslides; and increasing heat and drought.

Situation in the Philippines

Heat-related health risks are already documented nationwide. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) regularly issues Heat Index Advisories, which estimate the apparent (“feels-like”) temperature by combining air temperature and relative humidity. The advisories warn of increasing risks of heat-related illnesses as heat index values rise.

PAGASA Heat Index Categories

Heat Index	Risk Level	Possible Effects
27–32°C	Caution	Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure
33–41°C	Extreme Caution	Heat cramps and heat exhaustion possible
42–51°C	Danger	Heat exhaustion likely; heat stroke possible
52°C and above	Extreme Danger	Heat stroke imminent

When advisories are issued, PAGASA recommends:

• Limiting outdoor activities;
• Drinking plenty of water;
• Seeking shade or air-conditioned spaces;
• Wearing light clothing, hats, or umbrellas.

Department of Health Guidance

The Department of Health (DOH) advises the public to recognize early signs of heat exhaustion, including: Headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, fatigue or weakness, warm, flushed skin.

If symptoms appear:

• Move the person to a cool or shaded area
• Loosen or remove excess clothing
• Cool the body with cold compresses or damp cloths
• Give cool drinking water if the person is fully conscious.

Emergency medical care should be sought immediately if the person develops: confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness or symptoms consistent with heat stroke

Conclusion

It is accurate that cold has historically caused more temperature-related deaths worldwide than heat, and scientific studies have documented declines in cold-related mortality in many regions.

However, the claim becomes misleading when it alleges that WHO is exaggerating heat deaths or suppressing evidence.

No credible evidence supports that accusation.

The scientific evidence instead shows that:

• Cold remains an important public health risk
• Heat-related mortality and heat exposure are increasing as the climate warms
• Both findings can be true at the same time.

Rating: MISLEADING

The post accurately cites research showing that cold has historically caused more temperature-related deaths than heat. However, it falsely claims that WHO is concealing this evidence to “manufacture a crisis.” Available scientific literature and WHO publications do not support that allegation. Instead, they consistently acknowledge both declining cold-related mortality and increasing heat-related health risks associated with climate change.

Key Sources

• Zhao Q., et al. (2021). Global, regional, and national burden of mortality associated with non-optimal ambient temperatures from 2000 to 2019. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(7), e415–e425. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00081-4
• World Health Organization. Climate Change and Health.
• World Health Organization. Heat and Health.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), Working Group II.
• PAGASA. Heat Index Advisories and Heat Index Classification.
• Department of Health (Philippines). Health Advisories on Heat-Related Illnesses and Heat Exhaustion Guidance.
• Climate Change Commission of the Philippines. National Climate Change Action Plan and climate risk assessments.