Prioritizing Health in the Fight Against Climate Change: WHO's Call to Action
As the world prepares for COP-28, the WHO issues a crucial review, urging nations to place health at the forefront of their strategies to combat climate change.
1. Climate Impact on Human Health:
- WHO highlights the undeniable impact of climate change on human health, from illnesses triggered by extreme climate events to the rise of vector-borne diseases, cardiovascular issues, and respiratory diseases linked to extreme heat and air pollution.
2. Integration of Health in National Plans:
- Positive progress has been made in integrating health considerations into nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and long-term low emissions and development strategies (LT-LEDS), essential policy instruments outlined by the Paris Agreement.
- While 91% of available NDCs now include health considerations, the report stresses the need to scale up commitments for an equitable response.
3. Urgency in Addressing Air Pollution:
- Despite advancements, critical gaps persist, notably in addressing air pollution. Only 16% of NDCs include specific targets, measures, or policies to combat air pollution, a major environmental risk causing millions of premature deaths annually.
4. Health Benefits of Emission Reduction:
- The report emphasizes that ambitious action to reduce carbon emissions leads to broader health benefits. Encouraging sustainable practices like walking and cycling and promoting healthy diets not only mitigates climate impacts but also improves public health.
5. Underfunding of Health-specific Climate Action:
- Sustainable climate finance is deemed essential for health adaptation, mitigation, and climate-resilient development. However, health remains underfunded in national climate plans, and only a small percentage of climate funding is allocated to projects explicitly addressing human health.
6. WHO's Call for Action:
- WHO advocates for increased multilateral climate financing for health-specific initiatives. The organization emphasizes the need for equitable responses and urgent, comprehensive health-focused climate action at all levels.
7. Health at COP-28:
- WHO is actively engaged in supporting countries to bolster health through climate-resilient systems, reduced healthcare emissions, and global progress tracking.
- The organization is collaborating with the COP28 Presidency to lead the first-ever dedicated health day at COP on December 3, emphasizing the urgency of health-focused climate action.
In conclusion, WHO's review calls for immediate and substantial action, highlighting the inseparable link between human health and climate change and the need for robust, health-driven policies on a global scale.
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