No public health without planetary health

April 7 marks WHO’s annual World Health Day, which this year has the theme “Our planet, our health”. The future health of the planet and human health are inextricably linked. An estimated 13 million deaths annually are attributable to avoidable environmental causes, and that number will continue to grow unless overconsumption and reliance on fossil fuels are curbed. Coming amid the COVID-19 pandemic, global economic disquiet, and war in Europe, this World Health Day is a timely and necessary reminder that global crises are entwined with climate change, and that we should not lose sight of the existential threat that ecological degradation poses to planetary and human health.

The Sixth Assessment Report by Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, published on Feb 28, documents the wide-ranging negative impacts that environmental change is having on human health and wellbeing, and how these health risks will multiply if the internationally agreed goals to limit climate change are not met.

Read full original article No public health without planetary health at thelancet.com