{"id":9341,"date":"2021-10-11T18:42:31","date_gmt":"2021-10-11T16:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world-heart-federation.org\/?post_type=news&p=9341"},"modified":"2021-10-11T18:43:15","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T16:43:15","slug":"global-health-community-calls-for-climate-action-ahead-of-cop26-to-avert-biggest-health-threat-facing-humanity","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/world-heart-federation.org\/news\/global-health-community-calls-for-climate-action-ahead-of-cop26-to-avert-biggest-health-threat-facing-humanity\/","title":{"rendered":"Global health community calls for climate action ahead of COP26 to avert \u201cbiggest health threat facing humanity\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

GENEVA (11 October 2021) –\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>The World Heart Federation <\/span>has joined a global call to action for\u00a0governments to update their national climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, in line with their fair share of limiting warming to 1.5\u00b0C. <\/span>The call comes ahead of the UN climate conference (COP26) in Glasgow, UK as more than 300 organizations representing at least <\/span>45 million nurses, doctors and health professionals worldwide \u2013 about three quarters of the global health workforce<\/b> \u2013 <\/span>signed an open letter<\/span><\/a> to the 197 government leaders and national delegations ahead of COP26, warning that the climate crisis is the single biggest health threat facing humanity, and calling on world leaders to deliver on climate action.<\/span><\/p>\n

The letter\u2019s publication coincides with the release today of a <\/span>new report<\/b><\/a> by the World Health Organization (WHO), which argues that countries can only ensure a long-term recovery from the pandemic by implementing ambitious climate commitments. The report <\/span>delivers ten high-level recommendations, backed up by action points, resources and case studies<\/span>, including the need to place health and social justice at the heart of the UN climate talks.<\/span><\/p>\n

The letter states: \u201c<\/span>Wherever we deliver care, in our hospitals, clinics and communities around the world, we are already responding to the health harms caused by climate change<\/span><\/i>,\u201d. \u201c<\/span>Those people and nations who have benefited most from the activities that caused the climate crisis, especially fossil fuel extraction and use, have a great responsibility to do everything possible to help those who are now most at risk<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

By integrating health and equity into climate policy, governments have the opportunity to protect peoples\u2019 health, maximise returns on investments, and build public support for the urgently needed responses from governments to the climate crisis.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Both the <\/span>letter<\/span><\/a> and the report argue that health and equity must be at the center of climate change response; while the <\/span>letter calls for action<\/span><\/a>, the report provides the blueprint for delivering climate action that will protect the health of people around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>letter<\/span><\/a>, which has been signed by diverse medical organisations and high profile individuals, such as WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Medical Association, the International Council of Nurses and Doctors for Extinction Rebellion Switzerland, calls on all governments to update their national climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, in line with their fair share of limiting warming to 1.5\u00b0C. A recent report by UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) found that countries\u2019 collective climate commitments are falling far short of this goal, and would lead to a global temperature rise of at least 2.7\u00b0C by the end of the century (3,4).<\/span><\/p>\n

The 45 million health professionals <\/span>represented in the letter <\/span><\/a>are demanding a rapid and just transition away from fossil fuels; for high income countries to provide the promised transfer of climate funds; for investments in resilient and low carbon health systems; and for pandemic recovery investments to support climate action and reduce social and health inequities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The signatories of the open letter represent every region of the world, and include the International Council of Nurses, the World Medical Association, the International Federation of Medical Students Associations, the International Confederation of Midwives, and the International Pediatrics Association<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

See full list of signatories<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

ENDS<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Notes to Editors:<\/b><\/p>\n

More information on the #HealthyClimate Prescription letter is available here<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The <\/b>WHO report \u201cThe Health Argument for Climate Action\u201d will be <\/b>available here<\/b><\/a>. As part of key climate action, the report recommends to:<\/b><\/p>\n