WHO
Director-General Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus linked climate change for an increase in various health problems
across the globe.
While
addressing world leaders and attendees at the UNEA 6 conference on Thursday,
Tedros said the health of humans, animals, and the environment are “woven
together in a bond that is inextricable, yet fragile.”
“We are
now re-learning what humans have always known, but which, since the industrial
revolution, we have forgotten or ignored, that when we harm our environment, we
harm ourselves,” said Tedros.
He reminded attendees that for centuries, humans plundered the planet in the name of progress and are currently dealing with the triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Humanity has caused
“triple planetary crises”
According to the United
Nations, each crisis has its causes and effects and needs its solution.
“If our planet were a
patient, it would be admitted to intensive care. Its vital signs are alarming.
It is running a fever, with each of the last nine months the hottest on record,
as we hurtle towards the 1.5-degree threshold,” said the WHO chief.
He then painted a
picture of the planet’s lung capacity being compromised, with the destruction
of forests that absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
“And many of the earth’s
water sources, its lifeblood, are contaminated. Most concerning of all,
its condition is deteriorating rapidly. Is it any wonder, then, that human
health is suffering, when the health of the planet on which we depend is in
peril?” he asked attendees.
Tedros revealed more
frequent and severe weather events are causing more deaths, injuries, and damage
to health facilities and other essential infrastructure. More heatwaves are
leading to an increase in cardiovascular disease.
“Air pollution drives
lung cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chemicals
such as lead cause intellectual disability, and cardiovascular and kidney
disease. Drought and water scarcity affect food production, making healthy
diets less affordable.”
To solve this, the WHO
chief called for the implementation of the recently launched Implementation
Guide of the One Health Joint Plan of Action.
“One Health is one of the
important issues that WHO Member States are now discussing as part of their
negotiation of the new pandemic agreement, ahead of the World Health Assembly
in just 12 weeks. I urge you all to voice your support for the agreement. Your
work this week will have a direct bearing on the realization of a One Health
approach”, he concluded.
According to the WHO, the
Implementation Guide of the One Health Joint Plan of Action was designed
to integrate systems and capacity to collectively better prevent, predict,
detect, and respond to health threats. The initiative seeks to improve the
health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment while contributing to
sustainable development.
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