Thursday, November 02, 2023

Ahead of COP28, over 46 million health professionals call for pledge to phase out fossil fuels

In a letter addressed to Al-Jaber, who will preside over the climate conference, or COP28 as it is called, the medical community said a complete phase-out of fossil fuels was the only decisive way to deliver health for all.

Written by Anuradha Mascarenhas
Pune | India
November 2, 2023


This year, the annual climate change conference has, for the first time, dedicated one full day for discussing health impacts of climate change.
(File photo)

In a first of its kind appeal by medical community, organisations representing more than 46 million health professionals have called on COP28 president Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber to ensure that countries agree to an “accelerated phase-out of all fossil fuels” at this year’s climate change conference starting later this month.

In a letter addressed to Al-Jaber, who will preside over the climate conference, or COP28 as it is called, the medical community said a complete phase-out of fossil fuels was the only decisive way to deliver health for all.

Climate change impacts community health in several ways, and the continued rise in global temperatures can adversely affect human health. Right to health is mentioned in the preamble of the Paris Agreement as one of the objectives to aspire to while looking for solutions to climate change.

This year, the annual climate change conference has, for the first time, dedicated one full day for discussing health impacts of climate change.

K Srinath Reddy, Distinguished Professor, Public Health Foundation of India, one of the signatories to the letter, said a commitment to phase-out fossil fuels was essential.

“Without that commitment to end fossil fuel dependency, concerns about health effects of climate change will not carry conviction… To put brakes on climate change, it is necessary to remove fossil fuels from the engines of global economic development,” he said.

The letter also demands that fossil fuel industry representatives be excluded from climate negotiations. In the last few years, an increasing number of executives from oil and other fossil fuel industries have been coming to the climate change conference, triggering fears that their presence might slow down efforts to combat climate change.

“Just as the tobacco industry is not allowed to participate in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, it is imperative to safeguard global collaboration on climate progress from the lobbying, disinformation and delays in favour of industry interests,” the letter said.

The letter is supported by organisations like World Medical Association, World Federation of Public Health Association and International Council of Nurses. Some leading medical journals like the British Medical Journal have also endorsed it.

“Climate change is impacting the health of our children. There is a noticeable rise in cases of asthma, and respiratory problems due to worsening quality of air. Exposure to indoor air pollution is another important factor which can lead to adverse outcomes in pregnant women,” Naveen Thacker, president of the International Pediatric Association, and another signatory to the letter, said.

Dr Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Institute of Chest Surgery-Chest Onco Surgery and Lung Transplantation, Medanta Hospital, who too has signed the letter, said the dedicated health day at COP28 presented a historic opportunity to make bold and courageous decisions on ensuring health for all.

“Let’s end this fossil fuel dependency and reduce toxic pollution. This day should be remembered as a moment when we put people’s health and well-being at the forefront of our climate action agenda. This opportunity must not be lost,” he said.

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd

First published on: 02-11-2023 

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