[NAIROBI] While deaths from some traditional pollution sources, like domestic cookstoves and unsafe water and sanitation are declining, increased exposures to “modern” sources of pollution, such as chemicals and outdoor air pollution, mean that pollution-related mortality remains steady at about 9 million a year. This is a key finding of a new report on “Pollution […] Continue reading ->
One-half of the countries facing serious climate threats also are located in conflict zones – and that single fact alone illustrates the symbiotic relationship of climate and conflict, and their inter-related impacts on health. This was a key message of the Geneva Health Forum panel on ‘Effective Responses to Health and Environmental Emergencies through Peacebuilding’, […] Continue reading ->
Pollution is responsible for the premature deaths of approximately 9 million people each year; more than the number of deaths attributable to war and terrorism, malaria, AIDS, tuberculosis, drugs, alcohol or even smoking. That’s also the equivalent of one in six premature deaths worldwide, pointed out Rachael Kupka, of the Global Alliance on Health and […] Continue reading ->
It is possible for industry to implement environmentally friendly approaches that are also profitable, Bertrand Piccard, chair of the Solar Impulse Foundation, told the Geneva Health Forum. “I have been working on identifying solutions that can reconcile ecology and economy that means to protect the environment and at the same time create jobs and be […] Continue reading ->
The COVID-19 pandemic blindsided most of the world as it swept from China across the world at an unprecedent pace, infecting, ultimately killing millions of people. But more than two years later, there are some lessons that can be learned, said Tatiana Valovaya, director-general of the United Nations in Geneva on Tuesday evening. At the […] Continue reading ->
Children sick with malaria, adults in bed with fevers and rashes as a result of the Zika virus, tick-borne illnesses – all of these diseases are on the rise as a result of climate change, according to Valérie D’Acremont of the University of Lausanne. She spoke on Tuesday at the Geneva Health Forum during a […] Continue reading ->
India’s air quality data, removed at the last minute from the WHO Air Quality database update just prior to its launch two weeks ago, has been restored again to the online repository. The omission of data from dozens of cities in one of the world’s most polluted nations went unnoticed by major media until it […] Continue reading ->
Nearly ten years of air pollution data for dozens of Indian cities – among the most polluted in the world – was deleted from the latest World Health Organization Air Quality database just before WHO published the report on 4 April 2022, Health Policy Watch has learned. The Indian air quality data, spanning the years […] Continue reading ->
Global health leaders have repeatedly called for stepped up investments to both slow down climate change and recognize the health co-benefits of more climate action. But political leaders, including those in low and middle-income countries, still need to do more, Prof. Guéladio Cissé, Coordinating Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) told […] Continue reading ->
In its largest release of data on air quality ever, WHO has found that most of the world’s population are breathing unsafe levels of air pollutant – particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – which cause excess illness and premature death from respiratory disease, as well as from cardiovascular disease and cancers. […] Continue reading ->