COP28: Ending fossil fuels is essential for health – 12/03/2023 – Environment

The director general of the WHO (World Health Organization), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told Sheet which hopes to see as a result of COP28, the UN climate conference, “at the very least, the elimination of fossil fuels”.

“It would be very important for health”, he added, citing that respiratory diseases and air pollution are linked to the exploitation of fossil energy, which are also responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet.

“The relationship with health is the most convincing way to show people the impact of climate change”, he added, speaking this Sunday (3) in the corridors of COP28, which takes place until the 12th in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) .

For the first time, the climate summit dedicated a thematic day to the health agenda, which took place this Sunday, with a series of debates parallel to the diplomatic negotiations.

Upon leaving the stage at a table with Health Ministers from different countries, Tedros was surrounded by admirers, mainly health workers and researchers, who asked for photos and thanked him for his work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among the challenges of the period, the director of the WHO had to deal with scientific denialism — a common barrier to the agenda against global warming and which even affects the leaders responsible for the climate agreement.

On the 21st, the president of COP28 and also CEO of the oil company Adnoc, Sultan al-Jaber, stated in a video conference, revealed this Sunday by The Guardian, that there is no science behind the recommendation to eliminate fossil fuels.

However, the UN climate scientific panel (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency point out in their most recent reports the abandonment of the fossil matrix as a condition for keeping global warming close to 1.5°C. .

Asked about Jaber’s statement, Tedros replied that the need to eliminate fossils “is not only based on science, but also on the impacts that are already experienced.” “It’s all documented,” he added.

The mention of fossil fuels, however, was left out of a political declaration on climate and health organized jointly by the COP28 presidency and the WHO.

The United Arab Emirates combined donations from several countries and foundations totaling US$1 billion for the initiative, which promises to increase international cooperation towards more climate-resilient health systems.

“Improve the capacity of health systems to anticipate and implement adaptation interventions against climate-sensitive diseases and health risks, through strengthening climate health information services, surveillance, early warning and response systems, and a workforce climate-ready healthcare,” the statement reads.

The document also provides for the incorporation of health considerations into COP negotiation processes, with the aim of minimizing the adverse effects of climate on public health.

The text was signed by 124 countries, including Brazil, China, the United States, India, Germany and the United Kingdom.

According to WHO estimates, the climate is expected to cause at least 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050. Of these, 38,000 are expected to be elderly people exposed to extreme heat, another 48,000 deaths are expected to occur from diarrhea, 60,000 from malaria and 95 thousand child deaths linked to malnutrition.

Last year, the UN climate panel estimated the impacts of the climate crisis on the increase in infectious diseases, heat and malnutrition, the forced displacement of populations and even mental health, due to trauma after disasters and the loss of communities and their cultures.

_{Reporter Ana Carolina Amaral traveled at the invitation of Avaaz, Instituto Arapyaú and Internews.}