This paper investigates the impact of climate change on life expectancy using panel data from 191 countries over the period 1940–2020. The study develops a conceptual framework linking direct and indirect pathways by which climate change affects health, including weather variables, natural disasters, economic systems, and ecosystems. The main findings suggest that a 1°C increase in annual average temperature will decrease life expectancy at birth by 0.44 years, and further interaction with the rainfall cycle will reduce life expectancy by an additional 0.50 years. The study also finds that climate change disproportionately reduces life expectancy for females more than males. The negative relationship between a composite climate change index (a geometric mean of temperature and rainfall) and life expectancy underscores the urgency of addressing climate change as a public health crisis. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to changing conditions to minimize health risks associated with climate change.This paper investigates the impact of climate change on life expectancy using panel data from 191 countries over the period 1940–2020. The study develops a conceptual framework linking direct and indirect pathways by which climate change affects health, including weather variables, natural disasters, economic systems, and ecosystems. The main findings suggest that a 1°C increase in annual average temperature will decrease life expectancy at birth by 0.44 years, and further interaction with the rainfall cycle will reduce life expectancy by an additional 0.50 years. The study also finds that climate change disproportionately reduces life expectancy for females more than males. The negative relationship between a composite climate change index (a geometric mean of temperature and rainfall) and life expectancy underscores the urgency of addressing climate change as a public health crisis. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to changing conditions to minimize health risks associated with climate change.