LONDON: Leading global health organizations, representing over three million health professionals worldwide, are joining forces to advocate for immediate action to combat climate change and safeguard the well-being of communities.
In an open letter set to be delivered, these esteemed medical practitioners, including family doctors, physicians, and various health professionals, are urging world leaders to address the climate crisis as an urgent public health matter.
Signatories hailing from 39 distinguished health organizations, including Australia’s premier group for general practitioners and rural medicine, are expressing their growing concerns over the adverse health effects caused by climate change. These frontline healthcare providers find themselves increasingly responding to climate-related health emergencies, making it imperative to accelerate efforts to mitigate climate change.
Despite the mounting evidence of the harm and suffering inflicted by climate change, the expansion of fossil fuel resources continues, and greenhouse gas emissions remain on the rise. Health organizations from Canada, India, Europe, Pacific nations, and the UK are calling on governments worldwide to halt the expansion of new fossil fuel infrastructure, phase out existing fossil fuels, eliminate subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, and significantly invest in renewable energy sources.
The open letter emphasizes the urgency of taking action to curb global warming and mitigate the escalating climate health crisis. To limit the increase in global temperatures to 1.5°C, the proliferation of fossil fuels must come to an end, the signatories argue.
Nicole Higgins, President of Australia’s peak body for general practitioners, emphasizes the need for both Australia and the world to be prepared for the health consequences of climate change. As Australia braces for a potentially devastating bushfire season, Higgins underscores the importance of preventive action. General practitioners play a critical role in educating and motivating patients to develop emergency plans tailored to local climate threats and individual health needs.
Maria Neira, Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Health at the World Health Organization, highlights the deadly impact of air pollution, which claims over seven million premature deaths annually. Neira identifies climate change as one of the most significant health challenges of the 21st century.
This unified call for action coincides with a conference in Sydney, where health bodies from around the world are coming together to discuss the impact of climate change on public health and well-being. The collective plea from these dedicated health professionals serves as a stark reminder that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a pressing global health crisis that requires immediate and concerted action.
