Only 35 countries have submitted the national strategies required by the UN biodiversity treaty showing how they’ll meet its binding nature protection targets. While 33 of these plans recognise links between human health and biodiversity, they offer few specifics on implementation and policy, a Health Policy Watch analysis found. Negotiators in Cali aim to bridge […] Continue reading ->
Global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions remain catastrophically off track, with current policies putting the world on course for a 3.1°C temperature rise by century’s end, the UN Environment Programme warned Thursday in its annual “Emissions Gap” report. To keep the 1.5°C target alive, nations must slash emissions by 42% by 2030 and 57% […] Continue reading ->
The United Nations (UN) climate change meeting, COP29, will feature a Health Day on 18 November as part of the negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Maria Neira said that the global body wants to ensure that health is “very prominent” in all the member states’ climate negotiations, which run from 11-22 […] Continue reading ->
Cities that fail to take meaningful climate action face a future of severe degradation with infrastructure collapse and environmental deterioration, warned climate and health experts at the yearly Academy of Medical Sciences & The Lancet International Health Lecture in London. “Madrid’s climate in 2050 will resemble Marrakech’s climate today. I don’t think we want that,” […] Continue reading ->
DELHI, INDIA – North India’s air quality index (AQI) is rising sharply, having already crossed 300 in parts of the region, indicating “very poor” levels. And it is expected to worsen as winds shift towards Delhi and farmers intensify their autumnal practice of burning crop waste. The sharp seasonal increases have come yet again this […] Continue reading ->
Europe is now poised to deliver cleaner, healthier air – thanks to adoption this week of the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) by the European Union. This marks a crucial victory for the health and wellbeing of millions across the EU and serves as a beacon for the clean air movement worldwide. The AAQD […] Continue reading ->
Governments worldwide allocated almost $700 million (15%) more international development aid to fossil fuel expansion in 2022 than to projects improving better air quality – which typically also promote green energy and reduce climate emissions, according to a new report from the Clean Air Fund. This marks a sharp reversal from 2021 when international aid […] Continue reading ->
WASHINGTON DC – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) wrapped up its 61st Directing Council on Friday, after member states adopted policies ranging from health system strengthening to climate and health adaptation and mitigation. The council also reflected on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and presented a roadmap for a new strategic plan for […] Continue reading ->
Specific health actions need to be included in countries’ climate targets – officially called the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – according to several health advocates speaking at the UN Climate Week in New York City over the past week. “Our agenda should be health-centric,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health […] Continue reading ->
Nearly 4.1 billion people, roughly half the planet’s population, experienced unusually hot temperatures between June and August, in what was Earth’s hottest season on record. Climate change made these high temperatures three times more likely, according to the latest report by Climate Central, a US-based non-profit of scientists and science communicators that conducts research on […] Continue reading ->