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| The Health Sector on the Front Lines |
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In the age of climate change, the health sector finds itself on the front lines, confronting and adapting to a changing landscape and shifting burden of disease. By working to reduce carbon pollution in the atmosphere, while developing forward looking adaptation strategies, we can protect human health, saving lives and money. Indeed, the health sector can play a leadership role in developing and modeling climate solutions for the rest of society. |
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| Reports & Publications |
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Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Agenda is a document that sets out to support existing efforts around the world to promote greater sustainability and environmental health in the health sector, and thereby to strengthen health systems globally.
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| Notice: The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Health Care Without Harm concerning the legal, social, economic status of any country, territory, city of area or of its authorities. The published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. Online articles and links might expire days after their release date. |
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| Brazil: Greening the Health Sector: Rio+20 Event
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| by HCWH |
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Hospitals and health systems can contribute substantially to a green economy through improved energy and environmental performance both in developed and developing countries. This trend points to a major contribution that the health sector - which comprises between 8 and 10 percent of world GDP - can make to sustainable development. Health Care Without Harm In Partnership with The World Health Organization and the National Health Service Sustainability Unit, England are organizing a Rio+20 Side Event to discuss these topics. The event will take place on June 20, at 2pm in the U.S. Center, Parque dos Atletas. more |
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| Brazil: From the Earth Summit to Rio+20: Integration of Health And Sustainable Development |
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| by The Lancet |
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World leaders are meeting at the Rio+20 conference to advance sustainable development—20 years after the Earth Summit that resulted in agreement on important principles but insufficient action. Many of the development goals have not been achieved partly because social (including health), economic, and environmental priorities have not been addressed in an integrated manner. Variable progress in health has been made, and inequities are persistent. Improved health contributes to development and is underpinned by ecosystem stability and equitable economic progress. But still, implementation of policies that both improve health and promote sustainable development is urgently needed. here |
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| US: Climate Change Linked To Health Care |
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| by Bloomberg |
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Kaiser Permanente is the biggest non-profit health care company in the U.S., serving more than 9 million people with an operating revenue of $44 billion.
In February of this year, Kaiser announced it would reduce greenhouse gases 30 percent by 2020 compared to 2008 levels.
Kaiser Permanente is now recognizing that climate change threatens their mission of improving health and showing how an authentic,
mission-driven connection to global issues can drive change. more |
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| Europe: Climate Change Remains An Urgent Public Health Concern
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| by PLoS |
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Top-down advocacy on health and climate at the UN level needs to be mirrored by bottom-up public health actions that bring
health and climate co-benefits according to international experts writing in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Evidence from many sectors shows substantial health impacts of climate change, particularly for the most vulnerable and the
authors argue that possible climate changes constitute a public health crisis at least as wide-ranging as the effects of
tobacco on health. more |
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| Canada: Climate Change Bringing More Infections |
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| by Intelligencer |
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An apparent rise in ticks crossing Canada's southern border has the local health unit urging residents to use caution in wooded areas.
Some ticks carry Lyme disease, an illness that can cause serious heart and neurological problems in humans if not treated quickly.
A warming climate has officials predicting more ticks and more Lyme disease in the future. The arachnids often hitchhike on birds, riding from the United States into Canada. According to Aptie Sookoo, a public health inspector with the health unit "Due to the climate crisis ... Lyme disease is spreading." more |
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