Durban Declaration on Climate and Health

The Durban Declaration on Climate and Health, signed by health professionals from over 30 countries, argues that climate change is the greatest global health threat of the 21st century and that mitigation efforts, specifically transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, provide immediate health benefits. The declaration outlines five specific calls to action for COP17 delegations, including the need for greater health sector representation in the UNFCCC, the adoption of a strong second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol, and the negotiation of a binding agreement by 2015 that prioritizes human health and establishes a fair shares framework for emissions reductions.

• Unmitigated climate change is predicted by the World Health Organization to cause significant increases in death and illness through the spread of diseases such as malaria, cholera, and dengue, as well as through heat waves, droughts, floods, and compromised food security.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels provides immediate public health benefits by reducing harmful air pollution and protecting urban populations and local communities from the impacts of combustion and production.
• The signatories call for a transition to clean, renewable energy and low carbon economies to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius, arguing that failure to do so will increase the global burden of disease and worsen health inequities, particularly for the most vulnerable in poor countries.
• The declaration presents five specific demands for national delegations: recognizing health benefits of mitigation, increasing health sector representation in the UNFCCC, empowering women, youth, and indigenous peoples, adopting a strong second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol, and negotiating a binding agreement by 2015.
• The proposed 2015 agreement should prioritize human health, use a 'fair shares' framework for emissions based on equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, and provide resources for the Green Fund and long-term adaptation and mitigation funding.

APA

ostyx (2013). Durban Declaration on Climate and Health. Global Climate and Health Alliance. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/news/durban-declaration-on-climate-and-health/

Chicago

ostyx. Durban Declaration on Climate and Health. Global Climate and Health Alliance, 2013. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/news/durban-declaration-on-climate-and-health/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=ostyx |title=Durban Declaration on Climate and Health |publisher=Global Climate and Health Alliance |date=13 September 2013 |url=https://climateandhealthalliance.org/news/durban-declaration-on-climate-and-health/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{ostyx2013durban, author = {ostyx}, title = {{Durban Declaration on Climate and Health}}, publisher = {Global Climate and Health Alliance}, year = {2013}, month = sep, url = {https://climateandhealthalliance.org/news/durban-declaration-on-climate-and-health/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }