COP28 Open Letter on fossil fuels from the Global Medical and Health Community
Dear COP 28 President-Designate Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber,
This year, world leaders gathering in the UAE to take stock of their climate commitments will for the first time engage in official programming focused on health. We, the signatories of this letter, support your leadership in bringing health front and center at COP28.
As global health leaders, we are committed to achieving health and well-being for all – this is not possible without a safe and stable climate. The Paris Agreement enshrined the “right to health” as a core obligation for climate action. Yet, communities, health workers and health systems around the world already face the alarming impacts of a changing climate. Climate change-induced extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe – many countries are grappling with the health consequences of extreme heat, unprecedented storms, floods, food and water insecurity, wildfires and displacement. For COP28 to truly be a “health COP,” it must address the root cause of the climate crisis: the continued extraction and use of fossil fuels including coal, oil and gas. We call on the COP28 Presidency and the leaders of all countries to commit to an accelerated, just and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels as the decisive path to health for all.
Ending our dangerous dependency on fossil fuels will improve the health prospects of future generations and will save lives. Keeping the global temperature increase within the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement is essential to ensure good health and economic prosperity for all. This will only be possible if we rapidly phase out fossil fuels. Fossil fuel phase-out will limit global warming, thereby protecting health from the devastating impacts of extreme weather, and preventing further ecological degradation and biodiversity loss. Failing to do so will lead to overwhelming health consequences, as well as the loss of key natural resources and ecosystem services that are critical to both human and non-human species health, thereby undermining One Health and planetary health.
In addition to climate-related health impacts, air pollution caused in part by burning fossil fuels causes 7 million premature deaths annually. The economic costs of air pollution-related health impacts amounted to over US$8.1 trillion, or 6.1% of global GDP, in 2019.By improving air quality, governments can reduce the burden of disease from multiple cancers, heart disease, neurological conditions including stroke, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Investments in clean energy sources will save hundreds of billions of dollars in health care costs associated with air pollution every year, while reducing economic losses from extreme weather events with damages worth US$253 billion (in 2021).
A full and rapid phase-out of fossil fuels is the most significant way to provide the clean air, water, and environment that are foundational to good health. We cannot rely on unreliable and inadequate solutions, like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), that extend the use of fossil fuels but do not generate the real and immediate health improvements which a renewable energy transition provides. False solutions like CCS risk making harmful emissions worse, straining the health of overburdened communities and delaying our progress toward meaningful climate progress.
The energy transition must be just and equitable for all. In transitioning to a clean energy future, there is an opportunity to undo the injustices of the fossil fuel dependent system, taking a systemic approach and emphasizing health, care and community well-being, leaving no one behind. Global leaders must ensure everyone, including fragile states and the most remote and excluded communities, has access to non-polluting, affordable, reliable, accessible and resilient clean energy, as well as to emerging technologies that make best use of this energy. A just transition offers the opportunity to reduce health inequities faced by minority and marginalized communities, especially with respect to the health effects of ongoing fossil fuel use and dependence.
Unlocking finance is essential to deliver a healthy and just transition. Achieving climate and health goals will only be feasible if we stop investing in fossil fuels and invest instead in proven climate and health solutions. Each year, countries spend hundreds of billions of dollars subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, money that could be spent investing in a healthy future. High-income countries, development finance institutions, and the private sector must dramatically increase – and fulfill – their commitments to drive investments in clean energy, clean air, and economic development for the communities most harmed by climate change and fossil fuel pollution.
Fossil fuel interests have no place at climate negotiations. The fossil fuel industry cannot be allowed to continue its decades-long campaign of obstructing climate action at the UNFCCC negotiations and beyond. Just as the tobacco industry is not allowed to participate in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, it is imperative to safeguard global collaboration on climate progress from the lobbying, disinformation, and delays in favor of industry interests.
Without ambitious climate action, the burden on health care systems and health care workers will be insurmountable. Health gains made in recent decades will be in vain and we will see the harmful impacts of climate change ruin our chances for a safe, equitable and just future.
In this extraordinary year, with health for the first time on the COP agenda, we urge you to deliver real climate progress: Commit to an accelerated, just and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels and invest in a renewable energy transition as the decisive path to health for all.
Sincerely,
Global Health Organization Leadership
Dr. Githinji Gitahi, CEO, Amref Health Africa
Dr. Pam Cipriano, President, International Council of Nurses
Dr. Salman Khan, Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues, International Federation of Medical Students’ AssocIations
Dr. Naveen Thacker, President, International Pediatric Association
Dr Christos Christou, International President, Médecins Sans Frontières
Dr. María del Carmen Calle Dávila, Executive Secretary, Organismo Andino du Salud (Andean Health Organization)
Dr. Vanessa Kerry, CEO, Seed Global Health
Prof. Luis Eugenio de Souza, President, World Federation for Public Health Associations
Dr. Lujain Alqodmani, President, World Medical Association
Regional Leaders in Health (alphabetical by surname)
Dr. Mary T. Bassett, Director, FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University
Dr. Fiona Godlee, Former Editor-in-chief of the British Medical Journal
Prof. (Dr.) Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Institute of Chest Surgery, Chest Onco Surgery and Lung Transplantation, Medanta Hospital, India
Dame Parveen Kumar, Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Education, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Dr. Lwando Maki, Secretary, Public Health Association of South Africa
Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director, Sunway Center for Planetary Health – Malaysia
Dr. Kari C. Nadeau, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard School of Public Health
Prof. (Dr.) K Srinath Reddy, Past President of Public Health Foundation of India
This letter supported and endorsed by health leaders and organizations from around the world:
INTERNATIONAL
Climate And Health Foundation
Climate Mental Health Network
Health Care Without Harm
International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases
International Society of Doctors for The Environment
International Youth Health Organization
Ride For Their Lives
Vital Strategies
World Health Innovation Summit
AFRICA
Dr. Agonafer Tekalenge, President, Ethiopian Public Health Association
Dr. Adeline Kimambo, Executive Secretary, Tanzania Public Health Association
Ong Zéro Décès En Donnant La Vie, Burkina Faso
Maison Des Organisations De La Société Civile (Mosc) Anjouan – Comores, Comoros
New Hope for The Poor, Congo
The Youth Cafe, Kenya
African Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Egypt
Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases (Ajied), Egypt
Community And Family Aid Foundation, Ghana
Center Of Education and Research on Health and Climate Change (Cerscc-Magaria), Niger
Peal Medical Ltd, Nigeria
Mental Health Rebuilding and Restoring Initiative, Nigeria
Annals Of Health Research (The Journal of The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria) Nigeria
Nurses Across the Borders Humanitarian Initiative, Nigeria
Santé En Transition, Reunion Island
Groundwork, Friends of The Earth South Africa, South Africa
Energy Safe Water And Environmental Preservation For Community Development Foundation (Esawep-Cod Foundation), Tanzania
Csym Huduma Mbuenet, Tanzania
Health For Children Organization, Tanzania
Give A Hand Foundation, Uganda
Kabarole Ngos &Cbos Association (Kanca), Uganda
Tree Adoption Uganda, Uganda
Centre For Peace and Conflict Mitigation, Uganda
Youth Advocacy and Development Network-Uganda, Uganda
Corporacion Hvq Sa, Zimbabwe
ASIA
Aihms-Global, India
Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health, India
Green Practice Japan, Japan
Health And Global Policy Institute, Japan
Khyber Medical University Journal, Pakistan
Radiological Students’ Association of Pakistan, Pakistan
Planetary And Global Health Program, St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine, Philippines
St. Paul’s Hospital of Iloilo Inc., Philippines
Aga Khan Health Services-Syria, Syria
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
Dr. Vital Ribeiro, Chair, Associação Civil Projeto Hospitais Saudáveis, Brazil
Dr. Rosana Teresa Onocko Campos, President, Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva, Brazil
Fundación Ética Climática Y Desarrollo, Argentina
Act Health Promotion, Brazil
Health Hospitals Project, Brazil
São Leopoldo Mandic Medical School, Brazil
Instituto De Medicina, Estudos E Desenvolvimento – Imed, Brazil
Hospital Das Clínicas da Faculdade De Medicina De Botucatu, Brazil
Aguas Libres Villarrica, Chile
Departamento Comunal De Salud, I. Municipalidad De Talca, Chile
Clinica De Alta Complejidad De Aguachica, Colombia
Clinica De Cirugia Ambulatoria Conquistadores, Colombia
Clinica Esperanza Sas, Colombia
Clinica Pajonal Sas, Colombia
Cooperativa De Profesionales De La Salud De Donmatias Prosalco Ips, Colombia
Ese Hospital San Rafael De Pacho, Colombia
Fundación Amigos De La Salud, Colombia
Fundación Colombiana Del Corazón, Colombia
Hospital Regional De Zipaquirá, Colombia
E.S.E Hospital San Vicente De Paúl, Colombia
Hospital Francisco De Paula Santander – Santander De Quilichao Departamento Del Cauca, Colombia
Alc Eco Solutions De Costa Rica Limitada, Costa Rica
Fundacion Plenitud, Dominican Republic
Corporacion Hvq Sa. (Hospital Vozandes Quito), Ecuador
Alergiamx, Mexico
Centro Estatal De Vigilancia Epidemiologica Y Control De Enfermedades (Cevece), Mexico
Hospital Comunitario Abasolo, Mexico
Hospital Comunitario Moroleón, Mexico
Hospital General Salvatierra, Mexico
Hospital Materno Perinatal “Monica Pretelini Saenz”, Mexico
Observatorio Ciudadano De La Calidad Del Aire Del Área Metropolitana De Monterrey, Mexico
Celtimedic Sa De Cv, Mexico
Centro Estatal De Vigilancia Epidemiologica Y Control De Enfermedades (Cevece), Mexico
Hospital Materno Perinatal “Monica Pretelini Saenz”, Mexico
Secretaría De Salud Del Estado De México-Red Mexiquense De Hospitales Verdes Y Saludables, Mexico
Salud Sin Daño Panama, Panama
Circulo Laudato Si De Tacna, Peru
Instituto Nacional De Salud Del Niño, Peru
Asociación Latinoamericana De Pediatría (Alape), Uruguay
Sanatorio Semm Mautone, Uruguay
EUROPE
Dr. Sara Cerdas, Member Of the European Parliament, Portugal
Diederik Aarendonk, Forum Coordinator Global Health Organization Leadership, European Forum for Primary Care
Dr. Ansgar Gerhardus, Board Chair, German Public Health Association
Prof. Kevin Fenton, President, UK Faculty of Public Health
Dr Latifa Patel, Representative Body Chair, British Medical Association
Kamran Abassi, Editor-in-Chief, British Medical Journal
Dr. Richard Smith, Chair, UK Health Alliance on Climate Change
Sheila Sobrany, President, Royal College of Nursing
Diana Zeballos, Executive Secretary, Sustainable Health Equity Movement
Health For Future Austria, Austria
Eurohealthnet, Belgium
European Union of Medical Specialists, Belgium
Health Care Without Harm Europe, Belgium
Observatoire De L’anthropocène, Belgium
Pharmadvance, Belgium
Résiliænces Métamorphoses, Belgium
Association Of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Collectif Je Suis Infirmière Puéricultrice, France
Danish Family Planning Associaiton, Denmark
Société Française De Santé Publique (Sfsp) / French Society of Public Health, France
Comité Pour Le Développement Durable En Santé (C2ds), France
Eco Veto, France
Société Française De Santé Publique (Sfsp) / French Society of Public Health, France
Berufsverband Der Präventologen E.V., Germany
Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Epidemiolgie E. V., Germany
German Public Health Association, Germany
Klug – German Alliance on Climate Change and Health, Germany
Un Sustainable Development Solutions Network (Sdsn) Youth Black Sea, Greece
Irish Doctors for The Environment, Ireland
Irish Society of Specialists in Public Health Medicine, Ireland
Italian Assciation of Epidemiology, Italy
European Forum for Primary Care, Netherlands
Huisartsenpraktijk Rietkampen, Netherlands
The Green Health Alliance, Netherlands
Zorg Voor Klimaat, Netherlands
Centre For Sustainable Healthcare Education, Norway
Alianza Médica Contra El Cambio Climático, Spain
Fundación Ecología Y Desarrollo (Ecodes), Spain
Galician Health Service, Spain
Ifmsa-Sweden, Sweden
Medical Alliance Against Climate Change, Spain
Medicus Mundi Spain, Spain
Salud Por Derecho, Spain
Spanish General Medical Council, Spain
Fundación Ecología Y Desarrollo (Ecodes), Spain
Swedish Doctors for The Environment, Sweden
Doctors For the Environment Switzerland, Switzerland
Faculty Of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Consortium Suisse Pour La Santé Durable Et La Transition Écologique Du Système De Santé, Switzerland
Swiss Malaria Group, Switzerland
Health For Future Switzerland, Switzerland
Public Health Schweiz, Switzerland
Doctors In Unite the Union, UK
Green Health Wales, UK
Greener Practice, UK
Institute Of Health Visiting (Ihv), UK
Palliative Care Sustainability Network, UK
Royal College of Nursing, UK
The British Psychological Society, UK
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, UK
Royal College of Paediatrics And Child Health, United Kingdom
The British Psychological Society, United Kingdom
OCEANIA
Dr. Kate Wylie, Executive Director, Doctors for the Environment Australia
Dr. Frances Peart, President & Board Chair, Climate and Health Alliance Australia
Veterinarians for Climate Action, Australia
Institute For Climate & Peace, United States Minor Outlying Islands
NORTH AMERICA
Katie Huffling, DNP, Executive Director, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
Canadian Association of Nurses for The Environment, Canada
Canadian Association of Physicians for The Environment, Canada
Canadian Health Assoc. For Sustainability and Equity (Chase), Canada
Canadian Medical Association, Canada
Canadian Public Health Association, Canada
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (Rnao),
Ifmsa-Québec, Canada
CanadaBoston College Global Observatory on Planetary Health, US
Carolina Advocates for Climate, Health, And Equity, US
Climate Health Now, US
Climate Psychiatry Alliance, US
Clinicians For Climate Action New Jersey, US
Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, US
Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action, US
Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, US
Healthy Climate Wisconsin, US
Idaho Clinicians for Climate and Health, US
Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, US
Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action, US
Montana Health Professionals for A Healthy Climate, US
Physicians For Social Responsibility, US
Physicians For Social Responsibility, US
Physicians For Social Responsibility – Florida Chapter, US
Physicians For Social Responsibility Arizona, US
Physicians For Social Responsibility Maine, US
Physicians For Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, US
Physicians For Social Responsibility, Arizona Chapter, US
Physicians For Social Responsibility/Sacramento, US
Public Health Institute, US
San Francisco Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility, US
Solavida, US
Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility, US
Vermont Climate and Health Alliance, US
Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action, US
Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, US
Yale Center On Climate Change and Health, US
Please refer to this detailed background note for evidence on each of the demands.