Paris Climate Change Agreement: urgent priority for global health

This October 2021 briefing from the Global Climate and Health Alliance argues that achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement is a critical priority for global health. It calls on governments to integrate health into climate policy through transitions in energy, transport, food systems, and healthcare infrastructure to mitigate rising health threats and inequalities.

• The document asserts that limiting global warming to 1.5°C or well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels is potentially the most significant action that can be taken for global health, describing the transition to zero emissions as a "race to save countless lives."
• The burning of fossil fuels is identified as the primary driver of climate change and a major source of air pollution, with coal cited as the most damaging due to its high greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. The briefing notes that 2.6 billion people currently use polluting fuels for cooking and over 750 million lack electricity.
• Transport accounts for 24% of direct CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and contributes to mortality through air pollution, traffic injuries, and physical inactivity. The authors advocate for a shift toward active transport, such as walking and cycling, and zero-carbon technologies.
• Food systems are both a driver and a victim of climate change, producing between 20% and 35% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Poor diets are described as the leading global driver of ill health, contributing to conditions like diabetes, stroke, and obesity.
• The global healthcare sector is a significant contributor to the climate crisis, accounting for 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The document states that if the health sector were a country, it would be the fifth-largest climate polluter globally.

APA

Global Climate and Health Alliance (2021). Paris Climate Change Agreement: urgent priority for global health. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Paris-Climate-Change-Agreement-urgent-priority-for-global-health.pdf

Chicago

Global Climate and Health Alliance. Paris Climate Change Agreement: urgent priority for global health. 2021. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Paris-Climate-Change-Agreement-urgent-priority-for-global-health.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Climate and Health Alliance |title=Paris Climate Change Agreement: urgent priority for global health |date=October 2021 |url=https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Paris-Climate-Change-Agreement-urgent-priority-for-global-health.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalclimateandhealthalliance2021paris, author = {{Global Climate and Health Alliance}}, title = {{Paris Climate Change Agreement: urgent priority for global health}}, institution = {Global Climate and Health Alliance}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Paris-Climate-Change-Agreement-urgent-priority-for-global-health.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }