On the eve of the pivotal climate negotiations at COP27, WHO issued a stern reminder that the climate crisis continues to make people sick and endanger lives, and that health must be at the center of these crucial negotiations. make a call.
WHO believes the conference must conclude with progress on four key goals: mitigation, adaptation, financing and cooperation to tackle the climate crisis.
COP27 will be an important opportunity for the world to come together and reaffirm our commitment to the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target.
We welcome journalists and COP27 attendees to join WHO for a series of high-level events and spend time in the innovative Health Pavilion space. Our focus is to put at the heart of the debate the threats to health from the climate crisis and the enormous health benefits that will result from stronger climate action. Climate change is already impacting human health and will continue to accelerate unless urgent action is taken.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “Climate change is making millions of people sick and vulnerable to illness and increasing the destructive power of extreme weather events around the world. “It is critical that leaders and decision-makers come together at COP27 and put health at the heart of the negotiations.”
Our health depends on the health of the ecosystems that surround us. These ecosystems are now under threat from deforestation, agriculture and other land-use changes, and rapid urban development. Further invasion of animal habitats increases the opportunity for viruses harmful to humans to migrate from animal hosts. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to kill around 250,000 people annually from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress.
Direct damage costs to health (that is, excluding the costs of health-determining sectors such as agriculture, water and sanitation) are estimated to be $2-4 billion annually by 2030.
Global warming, which is already happening, is causing extreme weather events that bring intense heat waves, droughts, devastating floods, and increasingly powerful hurricanes and tropical storms. The combination of these factors means that human health impacts are increasing and likely to accelerate.
But if governments act now to do more to solve the climate crisis, honoring the pledges made in Glasgow in November 2021, there is room for hope.
WHO is calling on governments to lead a just, equitable and rapid phase-out of fossil fuels and the transition to a clean energy future. Encouraging progress has also been made in commitments to decarbonisation, with WHO calling for the establishment of a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty to phase out coal and other fossil fuels that harm the atmosphere in a just and equitable manner. increase. This will be one of the most important contributions to climate change mitigation.
Improving human health is something every citizen can contribute to. Whether through promoting more urban green space, or campaigning for local traffic regulation and strengthening local transport systems, which promotes climate mitigation and adaptation while reducing exposure to air pollution. , something that every citizen can contribute to. Community engagement and participation in climate change are essential for building resilience and strengthening food and health systems. This is especially important for vulnerable communities and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) who bear the brunt of extreme weather events.
The Greater Horn of Africa has been hit by the worst drought in decades, leaving 31 million people facing severe hunger and 11 million children severely malnourished. . Climate change is already affecting food security and will only get worse if current trends continue. Pakistan’s floods are the result of climate change and have devastated large swaths of the country. The impact will be felt for years. More than 33 million people were affected and nearly 1,500 health centers were damaged.
But even communities and regions less accustomed to extreme weather need to be more resilient, as we have seen in recent floods and heatwaves in Central Europe. WHO encourages everyone to work with local leaders on these issues and take action in their communities.
Climate policy must now put health at the center and at the same time promote climate change mitigation policies that deliver health benefits. A health-focused climate policy will result in a planet with cleaner air, more abundant and safe freshwater and food, more effective and equitable health and social protection systems, and, as a result, healthier people. is useful for
Investments in clean energy provide health benefits that more than double those investments. There are measures proven to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants. For example, applying higher standards for vehicle emissions, which is calculated to save about 2.4 million lives annually by improving air quality and reducing global warming by about 0.5 °C. By 2050. The cost of renewable energy sources has dropped significantly in recent years, and solar energy is now cheaper than coal and gas in most major economies.
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Note to editors
WHO manages 32 indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals, 17 of which are affected by climate change or its factors, 16 of which specifically affect children’s health.
The COP27 Health Pavilion convenes the global health community and its partners to ensure that health and equity are at the center of climate negotiations. We offer a two-week program of events showcasing evidence, initiatives and solutions to maximize the health benefits of tackling climate change across regions, sectors and communities.
The centerpiece of the Health Pavilion is an artistic installation in the shape of human lungs.
