[LINK] Your warming world

stephen at melbpc.org.au stephen at melbpc.org.au
Thu Jan 24 00:14:55 AEDT 2013


> Kim: http://warmingworld.newscientistapps.com/


"The Doha Declaration on Climate, Health & Well-Being"

 http://dohadeclaration.weebly.com


To: Governments, climate negotiators and the UNFCCC 

Health and medical organisations from around the world are calling for the 
protection and promotion of health to be made the one of the central 
priorities of global and national policy responses to climate change.

The protection of health and welfare is one of the central rationales for 
reducing emissions in Article One of the United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

Article Four requires all countries to consider the health implications of 
climate adaptation and mitigation. 

Yet health is being overlooked in the development of responses to climate 
change, and its importance undervalued by policymakers, business and the 
media.

Human health and wellbeing is a basic human right and contributes to 
economic and social development. It is fundamentally dependent on stable, 
functioning ecosystems and a healthy biosphere. These foundations for 
health are at risk from climate change and ecological degradation.


Health as a driver for mitigation and adaptation

The impact of climate change on health is one of the most significant 
measures of harm associated with our warming planet. Protecting health is 
therefore one of the most important motivations for climate action.

Climate change is affecting human health in multiple ways: both direct – 
through extreme weather events, food and water insecurity and infectious 
diseases – and indirect – through economic instability, migration and as a 
driver of conflict. 

The risks to health from climate change are very large and will affect all 
populations, but particularly children, women and poorer people and those 
in developing nations. Urgent and sustained emissions reductions as well as 
effective adaptation are needed.

Climate action can deliver many benefits to health worldwide. Reducing 
fossil fuel consumption simultaneously improves air quality and improves 
public health. Shifting to cleaner, safer, low carbon energy systems will 
save millions of lives each year. Moving to more active lifestyles and 
expansion of and access to public transport systems can improve health 
through increased physical activity and reduced air pollution. Improving 
insulation in homes and buildings can protect people from extreme 
temperatures and reduce energy consumption. All of these changes will 
provide significant economic savings. Climate action that recognises these 
benefits can improve the health of individuals and communities, support 
resilient and sustainable development, and improve global equity.

What we seek from climate action

Recognising health in all policies and strengthening health systems 
globally can advance human rights and help create safe, resilient, 
adaptable, and sustainable communities. 

We call for:

1. The health impacts of climate change to be taken into account 
domestically and globally

Health impacts and co-benefits to be fully evaluated, costed and reflected 
in all domestic, regional and global climate decisions on both mitigation 
and adaptation;
Health and environmental costs to be reflected in corporate and national 
accounts;
Assessment of loss and damage from climate change to include impacts on 
human health, wellbeing and community resilience, as well as impacts to 
health care infrastructure and systems;



2. Investment in climate mitigation and adaptation to be significantly 
increased on a rapid timescale

Priority given to decarbonisation of national and global energy supplies;
Cessation of fossil fuel subsidies globally and greater funding for 
renewable and clean technologies;
Funding for programs to support and protect health in vulnerable countries 
to be significantly increased; 
Investment in adaptation and mitigation programs that can demonstrate 
health benefits to be substantially increased;



3. The health sector and the community to be engaged and informed on 
climate action

The health sector to be engaged and included in the processes of designing 
and leading climate mitigation and adaptation worldwide;
National and global education programs to increase public awareness of the 
health effects of climate change and promote the health co-benefits of low 
carbon pathways; and
More inclusive consultation processes in global climate negotiations to 
reflect the views of young people, women and indigenous people.


Our Future

Human health is profoundly threatened by our global failure to halt 
emissions growth and curb climate change. As representatives of health 
communities around the world, we argue that strategies to achieve rapid and 
sustained emissions reductions and protect health must be implemented in a 
time frame to avert further loss and damage. 

We recognise that this will require exceptional courage and leadership from 
our political, business and civil society leaders, including the health 
sector; acceptance from the global community about the threats to health 
posed by our current path; and a willingness to act to realise the many 
benefits of creating low carbon, healthy, sustainable and resilient 
societies.

‘You cannot tackle hunger, disease, and poverty unless you can also provide 
people with a healthy ecosystem’ - Gro Harlem Brundtland

Sincerely,

(World Petition Signatories) 

==

Cheers,
Stephen



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