Health at the UN Climate Summit New York, September 20, 2014

This resource kit for the 2014 UN Climate Summit in New York frames climate change as a critical public health crisis. It advocates for a global transition to clean energy and active transport to save lives and reduce costs, encourages health organizations to divest from fossil fuels, and highlights England's cross-system health approach as a model for action.

• Climate change is increasingly recognized as a mainstream public health issue. WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan has described it as "the defining issue for the 21st century" and argues that its consequences for health should be central to discussions regarding the future of human civilizations.
• Transitioning to clean energy and active transportation can provide significant health and economic benefits. A global shift to clean energy could prevent millions of early deaths annually by improving air quality, while active transportation offers mental and physical health benefits and reduces air pollution.
• There is a growing movement within the health community to align investment choices with health and climate goals. Examples include the British Medical Association voting to end fossil fuel investments in favor of clean energy in June, and the Health Employees’ Superannuation Trust Australia (HESTA) restricting investments in thermal coal.
• The health system in England has implemented a world-first cross-system approach to climate change, which includes a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and improving preparedness for extreme events.
• The health care sector is encouraged to lead by example by reducing its own climate footprint and building resiliency into its operations, while advocating for policies such as carbon pricing and clean energy investment.

APA

Global Climate and Health Alliance (2014). Health at the UN Climate Summit New York, September 20, 2014. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/New-York-Health-Resource-Kit.pdf

Chicago

Global Climate and Health Alliance. Health at the UN Climate Summit New York, September 20, 2014. 2014. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/New-York-Health-Resource-Kit.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Climate and Health Alliance |title=Health at the UN Climate Summit New York, September 20, 2014 |date=20 September 2014 |url=https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/New-York-Health-Resource-Kit.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalclimateandhealthalliance2014health, author = {{Global Climate and Health Alliance}}, title = {{Health at the UN Climate Summit New York, September 20, 2014}}, institution = {Global Climate and Health Alliance}, year = {2014}, month = sep, url = {https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/New-York-Health-Resource-Kit.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }