Lancet Releases Major Health and Climate Change Report

The Lancet published a new report, 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change: Policy Responses to Protect Public Health. An update to the landmark 2009 Lancet Commission report, this new report argues that tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century.

Examining the latest data, the report finds that the health risks of climate change are unacceptably high, even potentially catastrophic for human survival. However, the report goes on to show that efforts to mitigate or adapt to this threat will have a direct benefit to human health, saving lives and improving the quality of life for individuals worldwide.

How we achieve this global health opportunity, the report continues, is no longer a technological or economic question – it is a political one. The report recommends that a strong international agreement, focused on moving towards a global low-carbon economy, will be critical to protect human health.

The report also emphasizes the vital role that health professionals can play in driving this transition. Trusted messengers – such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, public health officials, and other health professionals – are essential to improving public understanding of climate change’s impact on our health and the health opportunities achievable through climate action.