The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a new ruling that requires drinking water systems to replace lead pipes within 10 years.  The rule also strengthens requirements to locate lead pipes, improve testing for lead in water, and ensure that exposure is minimized while lead pipe replacement efforts are underway. “Families like yours, exposed […] 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 ->
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 ->
Three African countries—Algeria, Cabo Verde, and Mauritius—have successfully eliminated malaria, but dozens more still face this deadly disease. Globally, only 44 countries have eradicated malaria. The question of whether the rest of Africa catch up was explored in the latest Global Health Matters podcast, hosted by Dr. Garry Aslanyan. To delve into this issue, Aslanyan […] 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 ->
A UN High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) pledged to reduce by 10% deaths from drug resistant bacteria over the next six years in a new declaration on the “silent, slow-motion pandemic” that could kill some 39 million more people by 2050. Thursday’s milestone statement, the first on the topic since 2016, also pledges […] Continue reading ->