Briefing: Health and the treaty to stop fossil fuels

12 July 2022

Time A: 7:00 UTC Register
Time B: 14:00 UTC Register

To protect the health and lives of present and future generations we need a rapid, equitable phase-out of fossil fuels globally, so as not to exceed 1.5ºC of warming advised by global scientific consensus.

That’s why in 2021, the health community came together around a Healthy Climate Prescription that included, as one of its key calls to action, a call for

…all nations to deliver a rapid and just transition away from fossil fuels, starting with immediately cutting all related permits, subsidies and financing for fossil fuels, and to completely shift current financing into development of clean energy….

Signed by organizations representing 46 million health professionals and health workers, and by thousands of individual health professionals, the letter made the position of the health community clear: fossil fuels have got to go.

Momentum is now building around a potentially powerful mechanism for delivering on that demand: a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Phasing out fossil fuel production, and fast-tracking progress towards safer and more cost-effective alternatives, will require unprecedented international cooperation and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty offers a promising path to exactly that.

Join GCHA’s July 12th Briefing to to learn more about the rationale behind the Treaty, and to discuss how and why the health community should support the call for a Treaty to phase out fossil fuels. (edited)