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Please join me as I read @LancetCountdown report just released on health & climate change, tweeting out snippets as I go. It is 43 pages and has been making headlines: http://shorturl.at/tFPT8
The full title is: 'The 2019 report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: ensuring that the health of a child born today is not defined by a changing climate'. You can read it here (but have to register to get access): http://www.lancetcountdown.org/
First thought: that headline seems rather optimistic. It implies that can be achieved...
Report is an annual update of 41 indicators across five key domains: climate change impacts, exposures, and vulnerability; adaptation, planning, and resilience for health; mitigation actions and health co-benefits; economics and finance; and public and political engagement.
The world has observed a 1°C temperature rise above pre-industrial levels, with feedback cycles and polar amplification resulting in a rise as high as 3°C in north western Canada. Eight of the 10 hottest years on record have occurred in the past decade.
Carbon dioxide emissions continuing to rise in 2018.
Importantly, many of the indicators contained in this report suggest the world is following this “business as usual” pathway.
Importantly, many of the indicators contained in this report suggest the world is following this “business as usual” pathway.
A child born today will experience a world that is more than 4 degrees warmer than the pre-industrial average, with climate change impacting human health from infancy and adolescence to adulthood and old age
Globally, 77% of countries experienced an increase in daily population exposure to wildfires from 2001–14 to 2015–18 (esp India & China). Temperature rise and heatwaves are increasingly limiting the labour capacity of various populations cc #heatwavehealth
The downstream risks of climate change, such as migration, poverty exacerbation, violent conflict, and mental illness, affect people of all ages and all nationalities. cc @ozprodcom
To meet the Paris agreement target, a child born today would see the phase-out of all coal in the UK & Canada by their 6th and 11th birthday; France ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by their 21st birthday; and they would be 31 when the world reaches net-zero in 2050
If this eventuates, there would be cleaner air, safer cities, and more nutritious food, coupled with renewed investment in health systems and vital infrastructure.
The report points to some promising developments, inc: about 50% of countries and 69% of cities surveyed reported efforts to conduct national health adaptation plans or climate change risk assessments
Plus, the number of countries providing climate services to the health sector increased from 55 in 2018 to 70 in 2019 and 109 countries reported medium to high implementation of a national health emergency framework
"However, current progress is inadequate, and despite the beginnings of the transition described, the indicators .. are suggestive of a world struggling to cope with warming that is occurring faster than governments are able, or willing to respond."
"Bold new approaches to policy making, research, and business are needed in order to change course. An unprecedented challenge demands an unprecedented response...
This report comes from an international, independent research collaboration, w 35 academic institutions & UN agencies; it is by climate scientists; geographers; engineers; energy, food and transport experts; economists; social & political scientists; public health profs; doctors.
Gob smacking!! Global fossil fuel subsidies rose to US$427 billion in 2018—a 33% rise from 2017. On the other hand, some positive trends, inc: 'new analysis suggests a growing & more sophisticated recognition of the health benefits of the response to climate change in the media'
