The growing impact of climate change on respiratory health, including through longer pollen seasons, wildfires and more exterme heat, was the focus of an high-level event on the margins of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, organized by the Geneva Health Forum and Health Diplomacy Alliance. The event followed on the heels of a […] Continue reading ->
While the health harms of biomass cookstoves, and the smoke they produce inside the homes of developing countries has received significant attention in the past two decades, a wide range of chemical and pathogenic air pollutants create hazards in modern homes and buildings – also threatening health. Investments in ventilation, air filtration, monitoring, and clean […] Continue reading ->
Just as health leaders reframed tobacco from a consumer product to a public health threat, they can now help shift the narrative on fossil fuels. In the coming days, the annual World Health Assembly will convene in Geneva. Following the recent Santa Marta Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, national health ministers and global health […] Continue reading ->
The first international conference on phasing out the oil, gas and coal igniting the climate crisis ended with 57 governments representing every continent and a third of the global economy declaring the transition away from fossil fuels is now irreversible. “Actions taken to date prove that the energy transition is past its point of no […] Continue reading ->
Around 95% of Europe experienced above-average temperatures in 2025, with record heatwaves from the Mediterranean to the Arctic region. This caused rapid loss of glacier mass and snow cover, according to the latest State of the European Climate report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released on Thursday. All of Europe’s glaciers saw a net […] Continue reading ->
Extreme heat threatens livelihoods, health and labour productivity for over a billion people around the world, warns the latest report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Agricultural workers and the food production systems that they manage are on the frontlines. The increased intensity and duration of climate change-related heat waves, driven largely by the indiscriminate […] Continue reading ->
Less than 0.1% of all philanthropic funding has gone to the fight for clean air. Yet globally, nearly eight million deaths are attributed to the particles and gases that pollute the air – making air pollution the second biggest risk factor for premature death after high blood pressure. “Air pollution is one of the world’s […] Continue reading ->
A joint announcement by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) on microplastics made inaccurate claims about how many plastic particles exist in the brain, while providing an unclear regulatory plan to address this. But a study published in Nature Health found microplastics in nearly every one of its 191 […] Continue reading ->
The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) will soon unveil a new Roadmap on Air Quality and Health, following on from a meeting with countries and other stakeholders in February in Mexico. The PAHO strategy dovetails with an ambitious new regional action plan by the UN Environment Programme – which supports the work of environment ministries. While […] Continue reading ->
Lack of access to clean cooking fuel and technologies has extensive impacts on health, environment, economy, and women’s equality, say experts at the World Bank Group Spring Meeting. WASHINGTON– Nearly a billion people lack access to clean cooking on the African continent. A heavy reliance on charcoal, firewood, and kerosene pollutes homes with toxic particulate […] Continue reading ->