The declaration, which has been signed by powers such as the United States, the European Union and Japan, but not by the world’s two most populous countries, China and India, puts the health of the world’s population at the center of climate action.
A total of 123 countries They signed the COP28 Climate and health declarationan initiative that puts health at the heart of climate action and recognizes that emissions and pollution must be reduced to secure it, but without mentioning the need to end its main causes, namely fossil fuels.
The declaration, which includes powers such as USAthe European Union or Japan But not the two most populous countries in the world, China and Indiahas been promoted by the Presidency of the Dubai Climate Summit (COP28), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The COP28 Presidency recognizes that reducing the health impacts of climate change will require action from across society, including “rapid, large-scale action to decarbonize energy systems to reduce emissions by at least 43% over the next seven years.”
According to the same source Every year, pollution causes nearly 9 million deaths and exposes more than 189 million people to extreme events.
Issued one day before the celebration of the first Health Day of a climate summit, The initiators describe it as ‘historic’ because for the first time the necessity for governments to protect citizens and prepare their healthcare systems for health impacts associated with climate change, such as heat waves, air pollution or infectious diseases.
“The impacts of climate change are one of the greatest threats to human health in the 21st century. Governments have now rightly recognized that health is a crucial part of climate action and the Declaration sends a strong message that we must reduce global emissions and work together. to strengthen our healthcare systems,” said COP28 President Sultan Al Yaber.
“The climate crisis is a health crisis, but health has been a footnote in climate debates for too long. This statement highlights the need to build low-carbon, climate-resilient healthcare systems to protect the health of both the planet and its people.” according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The declaration includes building climate-resilient systems, strengthening cross-sector collaboration to reduce emissions and maximize the health benefits of climate action, and increasing financing for climate and health solutions.
The signatories also commit to include health targets in their national climate plans and to strengthen international cooperation to address the health risks of climate change, including at future COPs.
Doctors demand the end of fossil fuels
Despite being progress, the Declaration does not include the petition of the healthcare community that governments can commit to elimination “Accelerated, fair and just phase-out of fossil fuels” as the only way to improve “the quality of air, water and soil, the basis of good health”.
The health and well-being of all people cannot be guaranteed “without a safe and stable environment,” according to a report supported by organizations representing more than 46 million health professionals, including the World Medical Association, the World Federation of Public Health Associations and the International Council of Nurses.
According to health professionals, if COP28 is to truly be the ‘COP of health’, it must address the root cause of the climate crisis: the extraction and continued use of coal, oil or gas, which they call for an end to ‘improve the prospects . “health of future generations and saving lives.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
