Conference on Health and Climate Change - Civil Society Call to Action

Last week the WHO convened a Conference on Health and Climate Change attended by more than 300 people, including 30 ministers of health, official representatives from several dozen countries, scientists, economists, and representative from civil society health organizations.

The conference identified the urgency of the climate problem in its many health dimensions as well as a framework for the health sector to move forward in addressing it. Read the following:

Media Coverage:

  • August 31, 3News.com, New Zealand | WHO: Climate Change Major Threat to Human Health. Read more
  • August 30, Le Devoir, Canada | Quand Le Climat Devient Une Urgence de Santé Publique Read more
  • August 29, RTCC | Declare Climate Change Health Emergency, Say Charities. Read more
  • August 29, AllAfrica.com | Africa: Leaders Meet to Discuss Growing Need for Climate-Resilient Health Systems. Read more
  • August 28, Huffington Post, Canada | Canada Should Start Taking Climate Change Very Seriously. Read more
  • August 28, CNSNews.com | UN Climate Chief: 'Not Very Far' from Considering 'Climate Change as a Public Health Emergency'. Read more
  • August 27, The Tree Alerts | Health Summit to Show Bold Climate Action Will Save Lives. Read more

Key Quotes

  • “The health sector has led the worldwide move away from tobacco, lead in gasoline and other harmful products. It is now time for us to help lead a rapid transition from unhealthy fossil fuels to healthy, clean renewable energy in order to protect public health from local air pollution and global climate change.” Josh Karliner, Director Global Projects, Health Care Without Harm.
  • “We welcome the conference as an opportunity to debate and make climate and environmental sustainability issues mainstream in health systems and health services. We urge participants to take on the responsibility of proposing strategic actions that will encourage the health sector to play a leading role in addressing climate change and develop a concrete and systematic approach to health protection, in collaboration with national and international efforts. A strong signal has to be sent to policy makers, before the upcoming UN Climate Summit in September, that climate change and health need to be addressed urgently on a global scale.” – Kornelia Bagi, Climate Policy & Membership Officer, Health Care Without Harm Europe

Images 

HCWH's President and Founder, Gary Cohen

 

 

 

Delegates settle into the plenary to discuss the final summary and conclusions. Source: IISD

 

 

Event Details

Region

Southeast Asia