Lack of health focus at Climate talks a serious concern

Lack of health focus at Paris Climate talks a serious concern

Public Health Association media release, 27 November 2015

The Public Health Association (PHA) is calling on New Zealand and its delegates to the United Nations Climate Summit, starting on Monday in Paris, to show courage and leadership by setting an ambitious goal for the reduction of domestic greenhouse gas emissions.

“The effects of climate change are extremely serious and could impact on all New Zealanders by way of increased vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever, more food-borne disease due to higher room temperatures as well as weather extremes, severe storms and flooding.

“And in many cases it will be our most poor and vulnerable who bear the brunt of climate change’s effects; those who can't afford air conditioning, the very young, the elderly, and those without secure access to good food.

“We support calls from organisations such as Ora Taiao: The NZ Climate and Health Council for fair and ambitious targets that will protect not only our own future, but those of our neighbours in the Pacific, many of whom are already affected by climate change and rising sea levels. This is not something that just might happen,” Lindberg says.

The World Health Organization has declared climate change to be the defining issue for public health in the 21st Century but Lindberg says there is little sign of health having a significant focus at the Paris Talks.

“That’s a serious concern. How can we not see the clear relationship between climate and health?”

The PHA supports the call by Ora Taiao to rapidly phase out the use of coal and other fossil fuels and for much more emphasis in city planning on cycling, walking and public transport to reduce car use.

Investing in these sorts of things is a win-win, Lindberg says.

“We'd be creating a healthier society while reducing the demands on our already over-burdened health system and ensuring a more liveable climate.

“New Zealand is a well-developed country and a high emitter. Therefore the Paris talks provide a real opportunity for us to show leadership and to lead by example.

“We urge the Government to commit to at least a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, as per our agreement under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and to take steps towards a zero target by 2050.

“We further call for health to be a major consideration in all negotiation and development of international, national and regional climate change policies, and that this should be established through legislation.”

This weekend, on the eve of the Paris talks, marches will take place across New Zealand and around the world attended by people concerned about climate change and the apparent lack of political will to seriously address it.

“We support those marches,” Lindberg says, “and encourage as many as possible to join them. As the marching banners say, ‘To change everything, we need everyone, everywhere.’”

ENDS

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