In a previous message I asked:
*Does the world's population have true access to and understanding of climate change, its causes, and its devastating impact on health, both now and especially in the future?
*What is the level of wawareness among the populations of low- and middle-income countries?
*Is there a dynamic community of practice for climate change and health? A community like HIFA that supports discussions around the issues and that is open to all with an interest?
https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/cop-27
This new initiative (below) from WHO and the World Meteorological Organization promises to provide 'actionable information to protect people from the health risks of climate change and other environmental hazards'. Hopefully it will answer the questions above, although I cannot see a community of practice to engage with.
Extracts below. Read online: https://www.who.int/news/item/31-10-2022-who-and-wmo-launch-a-new-knowle...
--
WHO and WMO launch a new knowledge platform for climate and health
The first global knowledge platform dedicated to climate and health - climahealth.info – was launched today by the Joint Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with support from the Wellcome Trust. It is in response to growing calls for actionable information to protect people from the health risks of climate change and other environmental hazards.
Climate and health are inextricably linked. Climate change, extreme weather events and environmental degradation have fundamental impact on human health and well-being. More people than ever before are exposed to increased climate-related health risks, from poor water and air quality to infectious diseases and heat stress.
"Climate change is killing people right now,” said Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, coordinator of WHO’s climate change and health programme. “It is affecting the basics we need to survive - clean air, safe water, food and shelter - with the worst impacts being felt by the most vulnerable. Unmitigated climate change has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health. Reducing its impacts requires evidence-based policy backed by the best available science and tools."
The use of tailored climate and environmental science and tools for public health, such as disease forecasting and heat health early warning systems, have enormous life-saving potential. These tools and resources can enhance our understanding of the connections between climate and health, help us reach at-risk populations, and anticipate and reduce impacts.
WHO and WMO have designed this new global open-access platform to become the go-to technical reference point for users of interdisciplinary health, environmental, and climate science. The site represents the public face of the WHO-WMO Joint Technical Programme, bringing together the expertise and science of both organizations...
Site users will be able to connect with global experts; find upcoming events, news, opportunities, technical resources and data, applied decision and learning tools, case studies, and curated guidance and research documents; explore country, hazard- and theme-focused entry points and a growing number of climate service provider profiles and resources...
For more information, please contact climatehealthoffice@wmo.int
--
Everyone needs access to reliable information on climate change and health.
Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Global Coordinator HIFA, www.hifa.org neil@hifa.org
Working in official relations with WHO
