Tackling the Twin Threats of Climate Change and the Global Health Gap

Copenhagen — Student and professional health leaders to offer a Prescription for a Healthy Planet - emphasizing the twinned opportunity decision-makers have to tackle climate change, AND to narrow the global health gap between rich and poor.

Climate change is the most serious health issue of the 21st century. Health professionals from around the world have gathered in Copenhagen in recognition of the need to build a binding treaty to not only protect the environment, but also to protect public health. Dramatically reducing global greenhouse gas emissions whilst supporting low-income countries in their adaptation efforts can bring a host of health co-benefits.

What: 5-10 health professionals take action on climate change in COP15 conference centre.

When: 3pm Wednesday, 16th December 2009, Hall B near ICT Centre in Bella Centre UNFCCC Conference, Copenhagen

Participants will assemble for a mock ‘ward round’ where they will diagnose the health impacts of climate change, and suggest a remedy for the condition of the climate - a ‘Prescription for a Healthy Planet’ which has been endorsed by leading health organizations representing millions of health professionals from more than 120 countries.

The action will be supported by voices from the Global South, representing those countries where health will first and foremost suffer as a result of climate change.

Health professionals in Copenhagen are asking world leaders to:

1. Recognise that climate change is a key health issue, and this should be reflected in any global agreement;
2. View adaptation and mitigation support to developing countries as an opportunity to tackle “diseases of poverty” which climate change will exacerbate, undermining further efforts to meet Millennium Development Goals;
3. Mitigate greenhouse gas emissions to preserve our environment, and also yield many co-benefits on health through improvements to agriculture, transport, and energy production. These benefits make mitigation an investment in creating a healthy and economically active population.

Contacts

• Jonny Currie, National Coordinator, Medsin-UK, E-mail president@medsin.org Mobile phone: +44 791 756 4343 Website: http://www.medsin.org
• Mori Mansouri, Director on Human Rights & Peace 2009/2010, International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA), E-mail: scorpd@ifmsa.org Mobile phone: +44 772 169 1269 Website: http://www.ifmsa.org/
• Prof. Mike Gill, Co-Chair Climate and Health Council, E-mail: mgilm1@gmail.com Mobile phone: +44 786 753 8245 Website: http://www.climateandhealth.org/
• Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), Email: anja.leetz@hcwh.org Website: http://www.noharm.org/europe Mobile phone: +49 175 732 0657
• Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: genon@env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732 Website: www.env-health.org

Notes to Editors:

Medsin-UK is a network of students with an interest in global health, based at universities across the UK. Medsin aims to promote health as well as to act upon and educate students about health inequalities in their local and global communities. www.medsin.org

The International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) is an independent, non-governmental and non-political federation of medical students' associations throughout the world. The IFMSA represents over 1.2 medical students from 91 countries across the globe. Our mission is to offer future physicians a comprehensive introduction to global health issues. www.ifmsa.org/

Climate and Health Council is a UK-based charity, which aims to mobilise health professionals to tackle climate change. It is running a pledge-based campaign, which has sign-ups from health professionals in 125 countries www.climateandhealth.org

Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of 470 organisations in more than 52 countries, working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. www.noharm.org

Health Care and Environmental Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It achieves this by creating opportunities for better representation of citizens’ and health experts’ perspectives in the environment and health-related European policy-making. www.env-health.org

Quote from Nick Watts, Mori Mansouri, Guppi Bola and Jonny Currie, UK & Australian students:

“As future leaders in health and in light of the recent developments at COP15, we strongly affirm our belief in the relationship between climate change and individual and population health. Climate change presents a major threat to global public health and equity. Without immediate action, catastrophic impacts will worsen the state of health in many countries of the global south, widening the health gaps between global rich and poor.

Yet, the opportunity at hand in creating a new, brighter and cleaner environment for our communities makes efforts to tackle climate change pivotal to improving the health of our world. The relationship between health and climate change makes it crucial that health is placed at the centre of the UNFCCC Global Deal this December. We call for the immediate reduction of global carbon emissions to stabilise them at 350 ppm as well as support for international institutions advocating for the health community to bring positive change to our climate.”


Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of more than 500 organizations in 53 countries, working to transform the health care sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. Visit the HCWH website for more information.


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