Climate Change
Addressing Climate Change's Impact on Health
There is now persuasive evidence demonstrating the numerous health risks posed by climate change, which threatens populations of both low and high-income countries. These health effects include more frequent heatwaves, flooding and extreme weather events. Less direct impacts also include worsening food security, malnutrition and population displacement. Addressing climate change is also considered to be an opportunity to improve global health in the 21st century due to the significant health co-benefits of low-carbon solutions.
The World Medical Association follows the United Nations climate change negotiations so that the well-documented impact of climate change on health, as well as the public health benefits of climate change mitigation activities, are taken into consideration. Physicians advocate for making health an inherent component of the climate change debate and for an effective and ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement adopted in December 2015.
UN Climate Change Conference COP28 – United Arab Emirates Nov/Dec 2023:
- In an open letter on 1st November, global health leaders, including the WMA, called on the COP28 Presidency and world leaders to commit to accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels and investing in the transition to renewable energy to ensure health for all. #FossilFree4Health #COP28HealthLetter
- The World Health Organization invites individual health professionals and health organizations to sign onto a call to action, to end fossil fuels, build resilient, low carbon health systems, and deliver promised climate finance.