Nov. 23, 2023

Ahead of the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP-28), the World Health Organisation (WHO) has published its “2023 review of health in nationally determined contributions and long-term strategies” highlighting the actions needed to ensure that people’s health is fully prioritised and integrated into national plans to fight climate change.

According to WHO Director of Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, Dr. Maria Neira, “Countries have made significant progress in recognising climate change’s threat to human and planetary health in their national plans to tackle climate change, but we need to see these commitments scaled up, accelerated, and adequately funded to ensure an equitable response that protects the health and livelihoods of current and future generations.”

Despite this progress, there remain huge gaps in the action being taken.

Ambitious action on air pollution will save lives, yet only 16% of NDCs include standalone targets, measures or policies to reduce air pollution.

Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health. Ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution together cause around seven million premature deaths each year from ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and respiratory diseases like asthma and pneumonia, which disproportionately affects children in low- and middle-income countries.

By scaling up action to cut carbon emissions, countries will also see wider health benefits. For example, encouraging walking and cycling and supporting shifts to sustainable and healthy diets improves health while reducing impacts on the climate.

Additionally, countries can be expected to reap health benefits which outweigh the financial investments necessary to mitigate climate change.

For example, the LT-LEDS of the United States of America estimates that the air quality improvements that would come from implementing climate change mitigation measures could prevent up to 300 000 deaths and avoid USD$150-250 billion in health and climate damages by 2030.

Similarly, the LT-LEDS of other countries including Fiji, Morocco and Spain, acknowledge that reaching climate change mitigation goals will bring economic savings from air pollution reduction.