The co-benefits of actions on climate change and public health

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http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-11/l-stc112715.php

Public Release: 27-Nov-2015
Statement: The co-benefits of actions on climate change and public health
Leopoldina

On the occasion of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21), the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina has published a short statement on the co-benefits of actions on climate change and public health. The full paper follows and can be downloaded at http://www.leopoldina.org/en/climate-and-health. We will gladly arrange interviews on the topic. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Co-Benefits of Actions on Climate Change and Public Health

Over the past century, public health measures such as vaccination, sanitation, water treatment and waste management have improved the lives of many million people across the world. However, this humanitarian progress is now seriously threated by anthropogenic global warming, which is likely to increase the planetary surface temperature by more than 4°C till the end of this century under a business-as-usual scenario. The physiological, economic and sociocultural impacts of such an environmental shock would be devastating for many societies, most notably for the highly vulnerable populations in the low-income countries.

There is a common cause to man-made climate change and a plethora of health problems: the ex-traction and combustion of fossil fuels. But there is also a strong effect relationship: If we fail to con-fine global warming to less than 2°C (3.6°F) , the public health systems will have to face unprecedented challenges. By way of contrast, a transition to sustainable lifestyles and diets would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, infrastructure and settlements. In fact, the recent "Lan-cet Commission on Health and Climate" report stated: "Responding to climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century." The co-benefits of actions on climate change and public health become indeed more evident every day.

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Based on these fundamental insights, we ask policy-makers and stakeholders to:

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Appreciate the gigantic benefits of reduced air pollution: While CO2 has no direct impact on human health, the by-products of fossil fuel combustion (e.g. aerosols, nitrous oxides, fine particulate matter, tropospheric ozone) cause an unacceptable number of premature deaths every year. As a consequence, a rapid phase-out of coal-fired power plants is imperative, since these utilities also emit substantial amounts of toxic substances like mercury, lead and arsenic.

Promote health measures that help to mitigate climate change: Active lifestyles and dietary shifts away from meat and fat tend to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously fostering human well-being. These moves also help to protect natural resources such as soils, freshwater carriers and ecosystems.

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