Dave Walsh’s Post

Climate change, health, and the US election New article in the British Medical Journal:  https://lnkd.in/d9Eze-Cd By John Kotcher, Jeni Miller, Matto Mildenberger, Ed Maibach "On 5 November US voters will head to the polls and make decisions that have far reaching consequences for climate change and health, at home and abroad. Climate change is a public health emergency that will disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. More than 200 medical journals have declared that it is the greatest threat to global health and requires an emergency response. The two major political parties in the US offer vastly different visions of how they would approach the problem. This comes at a time when the health risks of climate change and the health benefits of climate solutions are becoming increasingly clear. " Continue reading: https://lnkd.in/dmnCFuR2

Did you know? There is a global alliance dedicated to safeguarding our health amidst the climate crisis: the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH). This vital initiative focuses on developing climate-resilient and low-carbon sustainable health systems by collaborating with Member States to share knowledge and formulate effective policies. A key goal of ATACH is to reduce emissions from the health sector, which currently accounts for about 5% of global emissions. Launched in June 2022 as a @WHO led initiative, ATACH aims to implement the commitments made during the COP26 - UN Climate Change Conference Health Programme. In just two years since its inception, the alliance has grown to encompass 90 Member States and over 75 partners, with membership expanding daily! ATACH's membership includes a diverse array of stakeholders, such as governments, non-state actors, and health organizations, ensuring a united global effort towards a healthier future. I am proud to be part of this initiative, knowing that our collective efforts are positively impacting the health of current and future generations. Explore climate-resilient, low-carbon health systems and discover how you can get involved through the ATACH Community of Practice. For more information, check out the following resources: - Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health #ATACH (https://lnkd.in/dibgP8En) - About ATACH - The Community of Practice for Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Health (https://lnkd.in/d6BV_XTX) - Launch of the official website of the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (https://lnkd.in/dJF4nHx3) - Inaugural Meeting of the Alliance on Transformative Action on Climate and Health (https://lnkd.in/dnTFxzYn))

How is health accounted for in climate change adaptation plans at national and municipal level in Norway? And how should it work? Find out more in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health https://lnkd.in/dhuF9ijs! Finally! Results of our work in the ENBEL: https://lnkd.in/dGErzXkk project are finally published!

Sometimes, asking for more research 🧐can be used as an excuse to postpone policy action. Luckily, I don’t think this will be the outcome from the conference “Research perspectives on the health impacts of climate change” arranged by the European Commission, which I’m joining this week. Why not ? - Because there is a growing momentum and interest in delivering the necessary actions to prevent the negative health impacts of climate change - while building better evidence. Climate change accelerates the growing pressure on health systems : 🥵Last year Europe experienced 62.000 extra deaths because temperatures are rising 🔥Air pollution (due to wildfires etc) will significantly increase the number of people who need care (heart diseases and respiratory diseases) 🧠Mental health impacts of climate change will put societies under increasing pressure. The European Commission calls on the health sector to become “a model sector” to showcase how climate mitigation and adaptation efforts can go hand in hand. My key takeaways from 2 inspiring days : 🍃The health impacts of climate change will be a key driver for climate action 🙏There is a clear role and responsibility for all public and private players to prevent the negative health consequences of climate change. On that note : Thanks to great partners in the The Sustainable Markets Initiative, Health Systems Task Force, among others Laura Mann, Sandrine BOUTTIER STREF David Elvira, MSc, PhD Roos Bruggink Benjamin Dory Fiona Adshead Hannah Green, MSc for demonstrating that we can do more, at scale, when we come together.

The world is facing a climate crisis with significant health and environmental consequences, driven by human activity. The relationship between population dynamics and climate change is complex, with debates ranging from clear links between populous countries and greenhouse gas emissions to spurious associations. Addressing this crisis requires a global, collaborative effort. While there is an urgent need for industrialised nations to reduce their emissions, rapidly growing poorer countries could also play a critical role in climate mitigation as they balance economic development with environmental sustainability. A nuanced approach is essential for long-term harmony with nature. Read more about how population growth and economic development intersect with climate change strategies in the newly published paper by AFIDEP researchers, Prof. Nyovani Madise, Dr Naa Dodua Dodoo, Dr John Mushomi, and Chifuniro Somanje in the Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2024 Vol. 22, pp. 1–7. Read: https://bit.ly/3XzmZp

Advocating for or Aggravating the Climate Crisis: Climate change stands as one of the most urgent and contentious issues of our era, shaping international discourse and influencing diverse aspects of global development. Perspectives on climate change often diverge based on national values, economic priorities, and conceptions of progress. For many nations, past successes were achieved through practices that degraded the environment, and now these countries, along with industries historically linked to environmental harm, are shifting towards conservation and sustainability. In contrast, other nations continue to prioritize economic growth over ecological integrity, sometimes dismissing climate change as a manufactured issue—a contradiction that starkly reveals the inconsistencies in global environmental responsibility. This disparity highlights how both individual and regional interests have often diverted attention from addressing the core crisis. Our intricate food systems and ecosystems now bear the consequences of these competing national policies and ideologies. Historically, humanity has neglected the environment’s essential role in supporting life, and today’s response to this oversight is hindered by decades of shortsighted planning and self-interest. Current mitigation efforts, though pursued with urgency, underscore the bitter irony of our delayed reaction, raising genuine concerns for future generations facing the compounded impacts of this crisis. #environment#climatechanges#climatecrisis#futuregenerations

How does human behaviour enable system-level changes for climate protection? 🤔 It is not always straightforward to see how insights from personal behaviour can help address system-wide problems such as climate change, as this behaviour is usually local and micro-founded. ➡ I recommend reading this article from Nature Human Behaviour (https://lnkd.in/eUcerxsw), which shows why large-scale behavioural data can be collected by behavioural scientists to help tackle this issue. ⚡ Public resistance to climate policies sometimes comes from information asymmetries, e.g., the rejection of carbon taxes in many instances around the world. Empirical evidence on public perceptions of and behavioural responses to policies could help policymakers foresee barriers and design solutions. 💡 A challenge but also a chance: While some countries have governmental support for implementing interventions for data collection, most countries don’t. #Behaviour #ClimatePolicy #GovernmentSupport #LargescaleData Reference: Jenny, M. A., & Betsch, C. (2022). Large-scale behavioural data are key to climate policy. Nature human behaviour, 6(11), 1444-1447.

Some hopeful green news from the 77th World Health Assembly - a landmark resolution on climate change and health acknowledges the profound threat that climate change poses to global public health (including eye health)! 🗝️Key Points? ♻️Develop and implement policies and plans to promote health protection from climate change and environmental determinants of health. ♻️Strengthening health systems' capacity to protect against climate change impacts, including through climate-resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and emergency preparedness. ♻️Emphasizes the need for increased international cooperation, financing, and support for developing countries to build climate-resilient health systems and adapt to the health impacts of climate change. ♻️Requests the WHO to provide guidance and technical support on assessing and addressing the health risks of climate change, and to promote the development of affordable technologies and services for climate change adaptation and mitigation. ♻️Importance of multisectoral collaboration to address the health impacts of climate change and promote sustainable development

Now, here's some encouraging news! 👇 More people support climate action than you might think, according to the findings of a new global study   Citizens surveyed expressed “almost universal” support (86%) for climate action   This includes:   🙋♀️ 69% of the global population expresses a willingness to contribute 1% of their personal income to climate action 🙋♂️ 86% endorse pro-climate social norms 🙋♀️ 89% demand intensified political action   And this was found by:   🌎 Conducting a representative survey across 125 countries 💬 And by interviewing nearly 130,000 people 🤝 It was found that in countries more vulnerable to climate change, people were more willing to contribute, even though typically these are the countries that have contributed the least to the problem   The surprising thing is: 🤔 In the majority of countries (110/125), these pro-climate citizens think that they are the minority 🌍 And by underestimating the willingness of others to act on climate change, we risks holding back a unified response   In the words of the authors: "Rather than echoing the concerns of a vocal minority that opposes any form of climate action, we need to effectively communicate that the vast majority of people around the world are willing to act against climate change and expect their national government to act" More info: Interview with the authors: https://lnkd.in/dY_dUE_e Link to the study: https://lnkd.in/d9nbGMYU   The authors are: Peter Andre (Goethe University Frankfurt) , Teodora Boneva, Felix Chopra & Armin Falk (The University of Bonn)

Read the Policy Brief "Integrating Human Health in Climate Change Policies" from the European Climate Health Cluster. Urgent action is needed and the Policy Brief provides a set of recommendations to safeguard public health in Europe. #IDAlert