WHO Issues New Call for Climate-Saving Action

As more companies examine the benefits of sustainable practices and implement them in their daily processes, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for worldwide governments and policymakers to follow suit. This week WHO released a special report describing climate change as the single biggest health threat facing humanity.

The report states that countries must set ambitious commitments not only to protect the environment but also to sustain a healthy and green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It outlines 10 climate and health actions that countries can follow to meet this goal.

Both the special report and an accompanying open letter representing 45 million health professionals from around the world highlight key climate issues that are already affecting public health including air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels, which causes climate change; intensifying heat waves, floods and storms taking thousands of lives; rising sea levels destroying homes and livelihoods; and extreme weather exacerbating food insecurity and hunger.

Like the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis has negatively impacted society and the economy by threatening people’s lives, decreasing worker productivity, and straining infrastructure and health services. The consequences of both crises have exposed the inequalities that have led certain communities, such as low-paid essential workers, to be more vulnerable than others.

A United Nations report released this summer found that temperatures in the world today are 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (F) above preindustrial temperatures. Without immediate steep emissions cuts, however, average temperatures could increase by more than 3.6 degrees F by the end of the century.

Some of WHO’s latest recommendations in the new report include prioritizing climate interventions with the largest gains, building sustainable as well as equitable urban areas and transportation systems, and promoting sustainable food production.