As Latin America's Health Pays Price Of Climate Crisis, Wealthy Countries Must Deliver Climate Justice
The conference, co-hosted by the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization and the government of Brazil, is an official event in the lead up to the COP30 UN climate negotiations, which Brazil will host in November.
In their Common Position of Latin America and the Caribbean on Climate Change and Health, which will be launched at the conference on July 31, the 50 signatory health organisations note the relevance of the COP30 Presidency's Belem Health Action Plan, which focuses on adapting health systems to be resilient in the face of climate impacts. They add, however, that 'it is crucial that the plan situate adaptation within the broader context of climate action, recognizing the limits of adaptation and the circumstances of health systems, especially in developing countries, where the lack of effective mitigation will quickly lead to the exhaustion of response capacity, severely impacting public health in Latin America and the Caribbean.'
Calling climate change not just an environmental issue, 'but also…a major ethical and political challenge' - the Common Position makes clear that action is needed across sectors, and that action to address the drivers of climate change, including through a just transition to clean energy, and restoration of ecosystems, will bring positive benefits to people's health. The Common Position was spearheaded by the Latin America and Caribbean Network on Climate and Health, which is convened by the Global Climate and Health Alliance.
'As he prepares to lead the COP30 negotiations in November, COP30 President Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago must emphasize to participating governments that while making health systems more resilient is essential, protecting health goes far beyond just adapting our health systems', said Jeni Miller, Executive Director of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, which brings together over 200 health professionals and health civil society organisations and networks to address climate change. 'Health must be addressed as a cross-cutting priority - through emission reductions, just transitions in key sectors, reforming harmful development models, and strategic finance. Brazil must ensure that across all pillars of climate action, COP30 delivers ambitious commitments that protect people's health.'
"At COP30, to prevent human suffering, and avoid overwhelming our health systems, , governments around the world must act across sectors such as agriculture, water and sanitation, housing, transport, and energy, and must address the primary driver of climate change by phasing out fossil fuels - doing so fairly and in ways that do not create new health harms', said Miller.
'As the impacts of climate change accelerate across Latin America and the Caribbean, the health of millions of people is already being compromised, health systems are coming under unprecedented strain, and economies face severe risk', said Milena Sergeeva, Liaison Officer for Latin America for the Global Climate and Health Alliance,. 'A 2024 dengue outbreak in the Americas affected 12.6 million people. Two-thirds of health facilities in the region are in high climate-risk zones. In the Caribbean, over 250% of a country's GDP can be wiped out in one day by a severe hurricane. As these impacts result from a climate crisis overwhelmingly created by high income developed countries, wealthy countries must provide support to countries in the LAC region, in the form of financing, open access to data, and technology transfer, so that LAC countries have the means to respond.'
The fifty organisations from across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) that have developed the Common Position joined forces in the spirit of a mutirão (collective effort) - to bring forward their diverse perspectives into a joint call to action. The Common Position will be launched on July 31 at the climate and health conference, in Idea Labs session 3, from 14:30-15:00.
'Increasing climate ambition in Latin America and the Caribbean can be a great opportunity to reduce inequalities that have existed for more than 500 years in the region, which are structural determinants of health', said Francisco Chesini from the Iberomerican Society for Environmental Health, one of the Common Position signatory organizations.
'At a critical moment of global climate crisis, Latin America and the Caribbean are speaking out, identifying threats to health, their highly diverse environmental conditions, and notorious social inequalities, and presenting proposals to address them', said Christovam Barcellos, Head Researcher at the Laboratory of Health Information, Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministry of Health - Brasil.
"As young health advocates in Latin America and the Caribbean, we are witnessing how climate change is deepening historical health inequities', said Marcelo Manturano, Regional Director for the Americas at the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations, a signatory organization. 'From our position at IFMSA, we are committed to intergenerational, inclusive, and justice-based action, because a healthy planet is not only a right, but a condition for the health and dignity of our peoples."
"Air pollution and climate change are an atmospheric combination that is undermining our life on the planet. Inaction is no longer an option. Science-based collaboration will make the difference." said Selene Martínez Guajardo, Executive Director of the Citizen Observatory of Air Quality of the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (OCCAMM), a signatory organization.
"The Chilean Society of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition (SOCHIMENUP) is committed to maintaining and strengthening collaboration with its South American peers', said Dr. Francisca Soto-Aguilar Bralic, President of the Chilean Society of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition (SOCHIMENUP), a signatory organization. 'Our motivation is clear, and our vision is shared: to use scientific knowledge in health and nutrition as a fundamental tool for building a more resilient and healthy future in the face of the challenges of climate change."
'We believe that protecting the climate means protecting the health of all people, which is why we are committed to promoting comprehensive, evidence-based actions to address the impacts of climate change on the health of Ecuadorians and ensure a more just, healthy, and resilient future', said Dr. Francisco Rosero, Coordinator of the International Relations Commission and General Coordinator of Commissions, at the Ecuadorian Society of Public Health, a signatory organization.
In addition to providing recommendations for governments in the region, the health organisations also call on the international community to:
Ensure that transitions to a fossil-fuel-free economy are fair and healthy, protecting health and human rights in the face of the growing global demand for critical minerals and agricultural products affecting the region.
Place adaptation in the broader context of climate action in the Belém Health Action Plan.
Increase international support to strengthen regional capacities in health and climate change, facilitating the transfer of technologies, financial resources, and open data for the generation of scientific evidence and institutional strengthening in the region.
Implement strict international measures to limit the undue influence of polluting industries in international climate negotiations.
Ensure that climate finance mechanisms prioritize projects that protect health.
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Calling climate change not just an environmental issue, 'but also…a major ethical and political challenge' - the Common Position makes clear that action is needed across sectors, and that action to address the drivers of climate change, including through a just transition to clean energy, and restoration of ecosystems, will bring positive benefits to people's health. The Common Position was spearheaded by the Latin America and Caribbean Network on Climate and Health, which is convened by the Global Climate and Health Alliance. 'As he prepares to lead the COP30 negotiations in November, COP30 President Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago must emphasize to participating governments that while making health systems more resilient is essential, protecting health goes far beyond just adapting our health systems', said Jeni Miller, Executive Director of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, which brings together over 200 health professionals and health civil society organisations and networks to address climate change. 'Health must be addressed as a cross-cutting priority - through emission reductions, just transitions in key sectors, reforming harmful development models, and strategic finance. Brazil must ensure that across all pillars of climate action, COP30 delivers ambitious commitments that protect people's health.' 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Increase international support to strengthen regional capacities in health and climate change, facilitating the transfer of technologies, financial resources, and open data for the generation of scientific evidence and institutional strengthening in the region. Implement strict international measures to limit the undue influence of polluting industries in international climate negotiations. Ensure that climate finance mechanisms prioritize projects that protect health.
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