Global health organizations recently sent a letter to Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, president of COP28, urging governments to commit to an accelerated, fair, and equitable path away from fossil fuels as the cornerstone of health for all. COP28 is scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates in December and will gather world leaders to advance efforts against climate change.
For the first time in climate summit history, a day will be dedicated specifically to health, highlighting the direct effects of climate change on the human body, individual well-being, and health systems.
Signed by organizations representing more than 46.3 million healthcare professionals, including the World Medical Association, the World Federation of Public Health Associations, and the International Council of Nurses, the letter underscores the urgent need to protect health by reducing dependence on fossil fuels, speeding investment in clean energy technologies, and cutting air pollution. The message rests on the premise that public health benefits from a rapid energy transition. Leading medical journals, including the British Medical Journal, have endorsed the call.
Rising health threats from climate change
Experts note that the climate crisis is already affecting health in tangible ways—heat stress, malnutrition, anxiety, vector-borne illnesses, and respiratory problems caused by polluted air. Extreme weather events also disrupt healthcare delivery, with hospitals and clinics being among the first to suffer when infrastructure fails. One advocate, Lujain, emphasized that dependence on fossil fuels worsens these risks and that a swift shift to clean, equitable energy would benefit health on multiple fronts.
Another leader, Luis Eugenio de Souza, president of the World Federation of Public Health Associations, warned that failing to reduce fossil fuel dependence may undermine health improvements. He stressed that the health sector cannot fully adapt without rapid action to phase out fossil fuels.
Healthcare facilities are often the first responders in disasters, facing rising numbers of patients with heat exhaustion, respiratory issues, and allergies linked to pollution and smoke exposure. Advocates say COP28 should promote integrated solutions and policies that both mitigate climate risks and strengthen health protections.
Pam Cipriano, president of the International Council of Nurses, highlighted the need to transition away from coal, oil, and gas toward clean energy sources. She argued that a healthy, climate-safe future demands immediate action and substantial investments in sustainable energy systems.
Keeping the fossil fuel lobby out of climate talks
The letter calls for excluding fossil fuel representatives from climate negotiations. It compares the situation to how conflicts of interest are managed in other global health frameworks, noting that industry lobbyists can hinder progress and distort public health priorities. The concern remains that such influence could slow decisive action in the face of mounting climate risks.
Last year, COP27 saw a record number of oil and gas industry participants, a trend that is expected to continue. The full text of the letter is available without citation in a public repository, and a downloadable PDF is accessible to readers who wish to review the details.
Readers are advised to consider these perspectives as part of a broader discussion on how climate policy intersects with health outcomes and equity across North America and beyond.
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