Global Climate Change

Climate change is impacting human lives and health in a variety of ways. It threatens the essential ingredients of good health - clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply and safe shelter - and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health. 

Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress alone. The direct damage costs to health is estimated to be between USD 2-4 billion per year by 2030. 

Areas with weak health infrastructure (mostly in developing countries) will be the least able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond.

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in November this year brought parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases through better transport, food and energy-use choices resulting in transformational change to protect the health of people and the planet. 

Initiatives under the COP26 Health Programme include: 

• ·        Building climate resilient health systems.
• ·        Developing low carbon sustainable health systems.
• ·        Adaptation Research for Health.
• ·        The inclusion of health priorities in Nationally Determined Contributions.
• ·        Raising the voice of health professionals as advocates for stronger ambition on climate change. 

Commitments are anticipated to be implemented in the coming years and will allow countries to develop a roadmap for future investments in climate resilient and low carbon sustainable health systems and facilities.

All countries are committed to deliver a baseline assessment of greenhouse gas emissions of the health system (including supply chains) and to develop an action plan or roadmap by a set date to develop a sustainable low carbon health system (including supply chains) which also considers human exposure to air pollution and the role the health sector can play in reducing exposure to air pollution through its activities and its actions. 

The Healthy Climate Prescription, a letter from the health community worldwide to COP26 national climate negotiators, calls for effective action to limit global warming to 1.5 °C, increased financing from high-income countries to support low-income countries’ transitions, and for strengthened investment in adaptation and resilience.