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Public Policy Projects (PPP) has released a new report suggesting that the World Health Organization should revise its narrow definition of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), to include climate change.
The new report, chaired by Deputy Mayor of London Seb Dance, showcases the devastating impacts of climate change on people’s health.
According to WHO, climate change is the single most serious threat to global public health in the 21st century.
Ahead of COP26, more than 45 million health workers from across the world wrote an open letter to world leaders calling for urgent climate action to protect people’s health.
More than 200 international health journals have called on world leaders to take steps to limit global temperature rises below 1.5C and to protect the health of their citizens.
Climate change could also reverse many of the gains in global health over 50 years, and increase existing health inequalities.
Although the health impacts of climate change are already unfolding across every continent and are causing thousands of deaths every year, PPP’s report, The climate crisis, and its health effectsHe argues that policymakers as well as the public still don’t fully understand the link between climate and health.
Seb Dance, Chair of the report, said: ‘Every day we take action to mitigate damage to ourselves. We limit our intake of certain foods and avoid certain foods. We exercise, quit smoking, and we sign up for nutritional programmes and gyms to help us get on a healthier track. We cannot avoid climate change. This is especially true for those with the least resources. There are also many public health crises that make it difficult to mitigate. It is time to put a health warning on the biggest global challenge we face: climate change kills.’
The PPP report also calls for national governments to develop effective strategies, as part of UNFCCC’s National Adaptation Plans (NAP), to identify, address and review the health impacts of climate change in their countries.
The report not just highlights the link between climate and human health, but also shows the steps that can be taken in order to rectify this health crisis. The Climate Crisis and Its Health Impacts provides a list of solutions that policymakers and governments can implement to reduce the negative health effects of climate change.
Commenting on the report, Elaine Mulcahy, Director of UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, said: ‘The recent IPCC report warned of the grave threat of climate change to human wellbeing and planetary health. Already, climate change has many health consequences. They are causing thousands of deaths each year, as well as increasing heatwaves, heat-related mortality, increased food, water, and vector borne diseases, and increased mental health challenges. We need to move quickly to address these challenges to protect health, while also realising the significant potential health benefits that can be achieved through the actions we take.’
Photo by Chris LeBoutillier
