WHO Urged to Declare Climate Crisis a Public Health Emergency

Takeaways

• International experts have urged the World Health Organization to declare the climate crisis a global public health emergency.
• The commission warned that climate change is increasing deaths linked to heatwaves, infectious diseases, air pollution, and food insecurity.
• Experts also called for an end to fossil fuel subsidies and stronger climate-resilient healthcare systems.

An independent group of international health and climate experts has called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to officially declare the climate crisis a global public health emergency, warning that millions of lives are at risk if stronger action is delayed.

The recommendation came from a pan-European commission on climate and health convened by the WHO. The commission said climate change now poses such a serious threat to human wellbeing that it should be classified as a “public health emergency of international concern” — the highest level of global health alert issued by the organization.

The report is set to be presented to European ministers ahead of the WHO’s World Health Assembly. Experts involved in the study said the declaration would help trigger a coordinated international response similar to those seen during outbreaks like COVID-19 and Mpox.

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According to the commission, rising temperatures, worsening air pollution, food insecurity, and the growing spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya are already damaging public health across the world. Increasingly severe floods, heatwaves, and wildfires are also adding pressure on healthcare systems.

Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland and chair of the commission, said the climate crisis should be treated with the same urgency as other major health emergencies.

She warned that without faster and broader climate action, millions more people could face serious illness or premature death in the coming decades.

Sir Andrew Haines, chief scientific adviser to the commission and professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said current greenhouse gas emission levels are accelerating health risks for both present and future generations.

He noted that rising heat exposure, infectious diseases, wildfire smoke, food shortages, and pregnancy-related complications are becoming more common as the planet warms.

The commission also criticized continued fossil fuel subsidies across Europe, calling them a major public health failure. The report estimated that fossil fuels contribute to around 600,000 premature deaths each year in Europe alone.

European countries collectively spend hundreds of billions of euros annually supporting oil and gas industries, despite the growing health burden linked to pollution and emissions. In several countries, fossil fuel subsidies were found to exceed large portions of national healthcare spending.

Experts warned that expanding fossil fuel investments or increasing drilling activities would further worsen health outcomes and climate risks.

Alongside cutting emissions, the commission urged governments to tackle climate misinformation, improve climate-health impact assessments, and recognize the mental health effects of climate change, including stress and anxiety linked to environmental disasters.

The report also stressed the need for more climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure. Hospitals and medical facilities, experts said, are increasingly vulnerable to floods and extreme heat, especially older buildings not designed for changing climate conditions.

The healthcare sector itself contributes roughly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the need for cleaner and more sustainable medical systems.

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, supported the commission’s recommendations, stating that climate action is no longer only an environmental issue but also a health, economic, and security concern.

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Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said scientific evidence clearly shows that climate change is already harming millions of people worldwide and should therefore be recognized as a global public health emergency.

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Source: The Guardian