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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 the WHO climate change is the greatest threat to global health for 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 effectsThe author argues that policymakers and the general public are still not fully aware of the link between climate change, health, and both.
Seb Dance, Chair of the report, said: ‘Every day we take action to mitigate damage to ourselves. We avoid certain foods and limit our intakes of harmful substances. We exercise regularly and stop smoking. We also subscribe to nutritional programs and gyms that can help us on a healthier path. Climate change is something that we cannot avoid. Even more so for those who have the least resources. 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.
This 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 & Its Health Impacts lists a number of solutions that governments, policymakers, and other stakeholders can implement to reduce the health impacts 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 is having devastating effects on health. This includes increased heatwaves and heat-related deaths, increased risk of food and waterborne diseases, mental health problems, and increased exposure to heatwaves. 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
