Editorial, Opinion Piece Discuss Threat Of, Need For Action To Address Climate Change

Washington Post: More studies show terrible news for the climate. We should be alarmed.
Editorial Board

“Another day, another study showing terrible news for the climate. There is a danger that scientists’ findings are coming so often and sounding so dire that even thoughtful observers will tire of being alarmed. But alarm is the only reasonable reaction. … These findings, particularly the new ocean warming estimates, underscore a crucial point in the climate debate. … By doing too little to respond to the warming threat, humans are effectively betting their future on the notion that the climate consequences of their behaviors will fall on the relatively benign end of the spectrum of possibilities. But they could also fall on the far more severe end. World leaders should be scrambling to buy insurance against that risk by investing in emissions-free technologies. Instead, President Trump ignores the issue except to dismiss it, and even leaders who acknowledge the problem do too little. Future generations will find it unthinkable that the world responded so weakly in the face of such clear warnings” (1/16).

STAT: Climate change is affecting health now. Our leaders must take action
Richard Carmona, 17th surgeon general of the United States and volunteer member of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, and David Satcher, 16th surgeon general of the United States

“Among the scientific and policy highlights of 2018 were landmark reports on climate change and human health. These brought more insight and urgency to the reality that climate change is happening now and harming our lives in a host of ways. How the U.S. and the rest of the world respond in 2019 will chart the course for our future. … Failing to act will hasten the spread of harmful health effects, putting all Americans at increased risk. Now is the time to act by urging elected officials to develop robust plans to lessen the impact of global warming and start improving health conditions in the United States. If the string of milestone reports isn’t enough, deadly hurricanes and wildfires serve as brutal warnings. No matter where Americans live, climate change — through hurricanes, wildfires, heat, flooding, and the spread of disease — is harming our health, just as it is harming the health of people around the globe. We’re all at risk and our leaders must lead on global warming. Now” (1/16).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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