Global Health Community Must Act Now To Reduce Impacts Of Climate Change
The Lancet published an opinion piece and editorial on the impacts of climate change on global health.
The Lancet: Health risks of climate change: act now or pay later
Andy Haines, Kristie Ebi, Kirk Smith, and Alistair Woodward, all members of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
“There is growing scientific consensus that climate change is happening, is largely human induced, and will have serious consequences for human health. … The prospect of extreme climates beyond mid-century… should impel the health community to promote deep cuts in emissions of climate-active pollutants now for the long-term protection of human welfare, starting with co-benefit actions that protect both health and climate” (9/20).
The Lancet: Climate change and health — action please, not words
Editorial Board
“Last year, the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern that the world’s commitment to mitigate climate change was insufficient. … In 2009, a Commission report published by The Lancet in collaboration with University College London (UCL) stated that ‘climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century.’ Five years later, we still believe this conclusion to be true. In 2015, we will be publishing the second UCL-Lancet Commission on climate change and health and also the first Commission on Planetary Health, which will examine the health and sustainability of human civilizations in the face of multiple environmental threats. Together, we hope these reports will help to build confidence among decision makers to act — and act urgently” (9/20).
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.