The Forum, which highlighted the commitments of health sector leaders worldwide to reduce carbon pollution and build healthy, resilient communities, culminated in the launch of a Call to Action on Climate and Health. This Call to Action, endorsed by over 70 leading health organizations to date, outlines ten priority recommendations the health community can undertake to advance human well-being in the era of climate change.

» Watch video of the event.

Initial Endorsers

The Call to Action on Climate and Health outlines a set of ten priority policy actions for health leadership to advance ambitious progress towards global climate and health goals (read the full Call to Action). We continue to seek endorsement of this Call to Action by health systems and organizations around the world at all levels – from local to global. Please join us in mobilizing stronger climate action for health and health action for climate.

A Call to Action on Climate and Health – Summary

Llamado a la acción

Climate change is a global health emergency that threatens to reverse decades of health and development gains, cause widespread human suffering, deepen global health inequities, and put at risk the environmental and economic systems we depend on for our survival.

As the world faces unprecedented heat, fires, and storms, now is a crucial moment for leaders to assess and reaffirm their commitments to climate action.

Climate Action for Health:  Action to reduce climate change can dramatically improve health and offers a path to sustainable development for all.  As leading health professionals and organizations from around the world, we call on local, national, and global policymakers to act now to significantly reduce climate pollution and build climate resilience.

Health Action for Climate: A growing number of health organizations around the world are taking action on climate change. If we are to achieve the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, the health sector must do more.

With the right policies and investments today, we have the opportunity to realize our vision of healthy people in healthy places on a healthy planet. The following ten priority actions are essential steps to protect health and advance human well-being in the era of climate change.

1. Meet and strengthen the commitments under the Paris Agreement
2. Transition away from the use of coal, oil and natural gas to clean, safe, and renewable energy.
3. Transition to zero-carbon transportation systems with an emphasis on active transportation.
4. Build local, healthy, and sustainable food and agricultural systems.
5. Invest in policies that support a just transition for workers and communities adversely impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy
6. Ensure that gender equality is central to climate action.
7. Raise the health sector voice in the call for climate action.
8. Incorporate climate solutions into all health care and public health systems.
9. Build resilient communities in the face of climate change.
10. Invest in climate and health.

These ten priority areas provide a roadmap for strong, coordinated, and urgent collective action to protect our health and that of future generations.

Read the full Call to Action (en Español).

Add your organizational endorsement

Endorsers

• Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (US)
• Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (US)
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American College of Emergency Physicians, California (US)
• American College of Physicians
• American College of Preventive Medicine
• American Lung Association
• American Medical Women’s Association
• American Public Health Association
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
• C3 Collaborating for Health (Global)
• California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (US)
• California Department of Public Health (US)
• Canadian Association of Nurses for Health and the Environment
• Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
• Citizens’ Climate Lobby Health Team (Global)
• Climate and Health Alliance of Australia
• Climate for Health, ecoAmerica
• Climate Psychiatry Alliance (US)
• Dignity Health (US)
• Doctors for the Environment Australia
• Florida Clinicians for Climate Action (US)
• Florida State Medical Association (US)
• German Climate and Health Alliance
• Global Climate and Health Alliance (Global)
• Health and Environment Alliance (Global)
• Health Care Without Harm (Global)
• Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate (Minnesota, US)
• Instituto Scientifico Biomedico Euro Mediterraneo (Italy)
• International Federation of Medical Student Associations (Global)
• James Sistrunk Medical Society (Florida, US)
• James Wilson Bridges MD Medical Society (Florida, US)
• Kaiser Permanente (US)
• Medical Advocates for Healthy Air (North Carolina, US)
• Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health (US)
• Minneapolis Health Department (Minnesota, US)
• Mom’s Clean Air Force (US)
• Multnomah County Health Department (Oregon, US)
• National Environmental Health Association (US)
• National Medical Association (US)
• NCD Alliance (Global)
• Ohio Clinicians for Climate Action (US)
• OraTaiao NZ Climate & Health Council (New Zealand)
• Physicians for Social Responsibility (US)
• Public Health Foundation of India
• Regional Institute of Health, Medicine and Research (India)
• UK Climate and Health Council
• UK Health Alliance on Climate Change
• University of California, San Francisco, Institute for Global Health Sciences (US)
• US Climate and Health Alliance
• Vermont Climate and Health Alliance (US)
• Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action (US)
• World Federation of Public Health Associations (Global)

Photo: Jason Ortego