During the 66th World Health Assembly, taking place in Geneva in 2013, delegates highlighted the many ways in which climate change affects health, through increasing risks of weather-related extremes, to impacts on both communicable and non-communicable diseases. They commended WHO’s role in international negotiations, technical partnerships with organizations such as the World Meteorological Organization, and particularly the expansion of support for health in national adaptation planning, now covering over 30 countries.
Member States called on WHO to renew and revise their workplan on climate change to cover the period 2014-2019, and to join the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, to work simultaneously on climate change and the health impacts of air pollution.
Side Event: Air Pollution – A Major Health Risk
How reducing short-lived climate pollutants can lower the death toll
Countries that act now to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), such as black carbon particulates and tropospheric ozone, can reap immediate health benefits and health cost savings – as well as reducing the hazards that may be expected from the pace of climate change in this century.
This was a key message that emerged from the side event on 20 May 2013 in Geneva, co-organized by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), with the governments of Ghana, Norway and Sweden.
Key speakers:
- Dr Tore Godal — Norwegian PM’s Special Advisor on Global Health
- Ms Anna Gunilla Carlsson — Minister of International Development, Sweden
- Ms Sherry Ayittey — Minister of Health, Ghana
- Dr Veerabhadran Ramanathan — CCAC Science Advisory Panel, University of California, San Diego
- Dr Kalpana Balakrishnan — CCAC Science Advisory Panel, Sri Ramachandra Medical College, India
- Dr Nino Künzli — Deputy Director, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
- Dr Maria Neira — Director, WHO Department of Public Health & Environment>