Faced with one of the greatest threats to humanity’s health, the urgent need to implement measures that address climate change continues to be an imperative objective, which has not yet become a reality.
Climate change is already here and its repercussions are manifested throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in four deaths can be attributed to preventable environmental causes, an alarming figure, and climate change is exacerbating these risks.
Climate change poses many complex health challenges, from extreme weather events to the spread of infectious diseases and the worsening of chronic diseases. It cannot be prevented with a vaccine, nor treated with an antibiotic. However, we know that we can mitigate its effects.
Reducing emissions in all sectors is essential to contain climate change and keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius target within reach. To achieve this, the world must decarbonize its energy systems and reduce emissions by at least 43% over the next seven years.
If we do not act, climate change will soon exceed the capacity of health systems around the world. Extreme weather events (such as droughts, floods and heat waves) will increase in frequency and intensity as the planet warms. Last year’s floods in Pakistan, for example, displaced eight million people and affected 33 million in total.
We know that the worst is yet to come. If we do not take bold and urgent action, climate change will displace around 216 million people by 2050, according to World Bank estimates. Climate change threatens lives and livelihoods as global food systems struggle to feed a growing global population and water sources are at risk. Additionally, climate change is triggering an increase in infectious diseases, such as dengue and cholera, putting millions of people at risk.
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Measures to reduce emissions can generate major health benefits, including reducing air pollution, which kills seven million people a year.
The relationship between health and climate change is evident. Now the international community must accelerate the energy transition away from fossil fuels while building resilience.
The global community must understand that investing in climate resilience at the local level has benefits. The World Bank estimates that for every US dollar spent on building climate resilience, there would be an average return of four dollars, as communities benefit from better quality infrastructure, both health and broader infrastructure, and This has lasting effects on multiple sectors.
More importantly, in the case of No act the price to pay would be chilling. Climate change is already harming almost half of the world’s population. By 2050, under a 2-degree global warming scenario, a staggering 1.4 billion more people will be exposed to heat stress, most of whom will face its most severe forms.
Health must be established as a pillar of a just climate agenda because those who are in the worst conditions to withstand the effects of climate change will also be those who suffer the most. The effects of climate change are already being felt disproportionately in low- and middle-income countries, despite being responsible for only a very small share of global emissions.
These disparities will worsen. According to the World Bank, nearly 40% of climate-related poverty will arise from direct health effects, as people lose their livelihoods or see medical expenses soar.
This future cannot be our reality. That’s why we call on governments and key stakeholders around the world to come to COP28 with ambitious solutions that prevent these health outcomes and help those already affected.
As the global response to Covid has shown us, in the face of great health challenges, humanity can come together and combat the most impressive challenges. If we unite, we can act and get results. Never before has this been so important.
This year’s United Nations climate conference will host the first Health Day on December 3 and will call for action starting with two key pillars. That day the first ministerial meeting on climate and health will be held. WHO has worked closely with a number of championing countries (including Brazil, Malawi, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Kenya, Fiji, India, Egypt, Sierra Leone and Germany). to develop a declaration on climate and health, which will be presented that week during the world health summit. This declaration will make health an anchor of the climate agenda and an essential part of the COP28 legacy.
We call on all governments to sign our declaration, because we know that together we can achieve public health systems that are climate resilient, climate neutral, sustainable and equitable, and from which we can all benefit.
Secondly, funding will be a key catalyst for COP28 Health Day. Our desire is not only to increase the total amount of climate finance, but also to boost investments in health and in support of this sector. Currently, only 2% of adaptation funds and 0.5% of multilateral climate funds have been allocated to health projects.
At COP28 we can help transform the entire climate finance infrastructure for impact. We call on international financial institutions and multilateral development banks to increase the flow of concessional funds to the global south, reduce risk and attract more private capital, while increasing the proportion allocated to adaptation and health.
We are facing an unprecedented crisis. We have solutions to face this moment. A health-focused climate response is a critical response.
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