Today, globally renowned medical journal the Lancet released the 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change: Policy Responses to Protect Public Health, an update to the landmark 2009 Lancet Commission report. This new report argues that tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century, an opportunity that now requires political will to realize.
The report’s policy recommendations range from cities supporting lifestyles for healthy people and planet, to an international agreement to transition to a low-carbon economy; and from phasing out coal and fossil fuel subsidies in the energy sector, to scaling up research and financing in the health sector.
Coverage in the media has been widespread. Below is a collection of recommended resources on the 2015 Lancet Commission from Health Care Without Harm and our global partners.
- Webinar and virtual launch event (24 June, 12:00 GMT): COP21 – Perspectives on how climate action can benefit health, featuring two of the main authors, hosted by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). Recording and slides available here.
- Article: “Coal’s health threat,” by prominent UK doctors and health leaders
- Twitter Q&A (25 June 16:30 GMT): chat with two of the Commission’s co-chairs using the hashtag #AskLancet, coordinated by Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA)
- Reddit Science AMA with the Lancet Commission on Public Health and Climate
- Article: “Climate mitigation – the greatest public health opportunity of our time,” by Fiona Armstrong (Climate and Health Alliance)
- Article: “HEAL Reaction: Medics offer a healthy boost for a stronger Paris climate agreement,” by Génon K. Jensen (HEAL)
- Podcast: “Health and climate change: Communicating the latest Lancet report,” featuring lead author Nick Watts (GCHA), Benn Grover (HCWH), and Catherine Thomasson (Physicians for Social Responsibility), via Tree Alerts