Paris Climate Change Agreement: urgent priority for global health

The Health and Climate Network argues that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is a critical action for global health. It advocates for a transition to renewable energy, sustainable transport, healthy diets, and climate-resilient health systems, noting that the health gains from the Paris Agreement would outweigh the financial costs of mitigation.

• Limiting global warming to 1.5°C or well below 2°C as per the Paris Agreement is described as potentially the most significant action for global health, with the transition to zero emissions framed as a way to save lives.
• The burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal, is identified as the primary driver of climate change and a major source of air pollution. Currently, 2.6 billion people use polluting fuels for cooking and over 750 million lack electricity access.
• Transport accounts for 24% of direct CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and contributes to mortality through air pollution, traffic injuries, and physical inactivity.
• Food systems are both a driver and a victim of climate change, producing between 20% and 35% of global greenhouse gas emissions while facing reduced yields of staple crops, vegetables, and legumes due to warming.
• The global health sector is a significant contributor to the climate crisis, accounting for 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions; if it were a country, it would be the fifth-largest polluter globally.
• According to the World Health Organization, the health benefits resulting from meeting the Paris Agreement's goals would exceed the global financial costs of climate mitigation.

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} }