Major Emitters Omit Health Priorities from Climate Plans, Alliance Report Finds

Major economies responsible for more than half of global carbon emissions have largely failed to address health risks in their latest national climate commitments, Health Policy Watch reported. The national climate plans were filed with the United Nations ahead of the upcoming COP31 summit. [1]

The findings are based on a global scorecard released by the Global Climate and Health Alliance, a network containing more than 300 health organisations. According to Health Policy Watch, the alliance graded 117 national climate plans, which included a joint plan covering the 27 member states of the European Union. [1]

Health Policy Watch noted that low and middle income countries that contribute little to global warming have done the most to account for its health consequences. The scorecard evaluated how climate plans deal with issues ranging from heatstroke to malaria. [1]

Climate change impacts human health through heat related illnesses, worsened air quality, infectious disease transmission, and risks from extreme weather events such as floods and storms. Rising global temperatures increase the severity of heat waves, leading to direct health consequences when individuals face prolonged high temperatures. [3]