Written submission by GCHA to the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels

The Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) submitted a written statement to the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, arguing that fossil fuels should be recognized as health-harming products. The document outlines structural barriers to the energy transition and proposes three primary solutions: integrating health cost accounting into national finance, redirecting fossil fuel subsidies toward clean energy and public health, and banning fossil fuel marketing and sponsorships.

• Fossil fuels are a primary driver of climate change and pollution, with air pollution from these sources causing approximately 5.3 million premature deaths annually. In 2018, the economic impact of fossil fuel-related air pollution was estimated at US$2.9 trillion, representing 3.3% of global GDP.
• The transition away from fossil fuels is hindered by several structural barriers, including economic dependence on extraction for revenue and employment, infrastructure lock-in where investors seek to recover sunk costs, the use of subsidies to keep fuels artificially cheap, and industry lobbying and disinformation campaigns that obscure health harms.
• The GCHA proposes 'Health Cost Accounting' to reduce fiscal dependence on fossil fuels. This involves integrating the true health and economic costs—such as healthcare expenditures, lost labour productivity, and environmental remediation—into national finance and energy planning between 2026 and 2050.
• The GCHA recommends phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and redirecting those funds toward renewable energy, clean cooking, public transport, and resilient infrastructure. This transition is proposed to begin between 2026 and 2031, with a goal of achieving predominantly clean energy systems by 2032-2040.
• To reduce demand and prevent greenwashing, the GCHA advocates for a comprehensive ban on fossil fuel advertising, marketing, and sponsorships across media, cultural, educational, and sporting platforms, drawing a parallel to tobacco control measures.

APA

Global Climate and Health Alliance (n.d.). Written submission by GCHA to the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sant-Marta-Conference-2026-GCHA-Written-submission.pdf

Chicago

Global Climate and Health Alliance. Written submission by GCHA to the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels. n.d. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sant-Marta-Conference-2026-GCHA-Written-submission.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Global Climate and Health Alliance |title=Written submission by GCHA to the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels |url=https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sant-Marta-Conference-2026-GCHA-Written-submission.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{globalclimateandhealthalliancendwritten, author = {{Global Climate and Health Alliance}}, title = {{Written submission by GCHA to the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels}}, publisher = {Global Climate and Health Alliance}, url = {https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sant-Marta-Conference-2026-GCHA-Written-submission.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }