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The WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action on Climate and Health reports on its 2021 efforts to mobilize the health sector for climate action. Key achievements include conducting regional consultations across six WHO regions involving over 135 countries, launching the 'Healthy Climate Prescription' open letter signed by organizations representing 46 million health workers, and publishing a report on climate and health research gaps. The group also supported the Global Climate and Health Conference and the WHO Health Pavilion at COP26 to increase the visibility of health in climate negotiations.

The report finds that most of the 88+ GW of proposed US gas power plants are economically uncompetitive compared to Clean Energy Portfolios (CEPs), which combine wind, solar, storage, energy efficiency, and demand flexibility. At least 70 GW of proposed gas capacity could be avoided using CEPs, potentially saving $22 billion and reducing CO2 emissions by 873 million metric tons over 20 years. The analysis highlights six key headwinds—including declining renewable costs, rising gas prices, and public health impacts—that increase the risk of project cancellations or stranded assets. Specifically, in a central analysis case, 40% of proposed combined cycle (CC) plants would cost more to operate than a new CEP would cost to build within 10 years, a figure that could rise to 80-90% under certain economic scenarios. The report also notes that CEPs create more jobs and avoid significant health costs, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color.

The adoption of the ACT and HDO rules in Massachusetts is projected to significantly reduce toxic air pollutants and carbon emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, leading to substantial health savings and net societal benefits by 2050.

Climate Central analysis shows that 72% of 246 evaluated U.S. locations have seen an increase in the amount of rain falling on their annual wettest day since 1950, with the most significant increases occurring in the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic. The document links these trends to rising temperatures, noting that for every 1°F increase, the atmosphere holds approximately 4% more moisture. It highlights the severe impacts of these events, including $43 billion in flood damages from 2016-2020 and disproportionate risks for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor communities, particularly in redlined areas where flood risk is 25% higher.

The report uses the Louisiana Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) to compare a Business As Usual (BAU) trajectory with a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) scenario. Under BAU, Louisiana's economy-wide emissions are projected to increase by 30% by 2050. Conversely, the NDC scenario, which aligns with Paris Agreement targets, could reduce statewide emissions by 97% below 2020 levels by 2050. This transition would rely heavily on industrial fuel switching and green hydrogen, potentially creating 263,000 new job-years and avoiding 2,300 premature deaths annually by 2050.

The adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Heavy-Duty Omnibus (HDO) rules in Oregon is projected to significantly reduce toxic air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions from medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicles. By 2050, these regulations are expected to reduce NOx emissions by nearly 90% and PM2.5 by over 80%, preventing approximately 156 premature deaths and 118 hospital visits. Economically, the shift is projected to generate $21.2 billion in cumulative net societal benefits by 2050, with electric truck operators seeing an estimated $60,000 in net lifetime savings per vehicle by 2040 due to lower fuel and maintenance costs.

The document details the impact of Washington adopting the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, which requires an increasing percentage of new medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle sales to be zero-emissions starting in 2024. It highlights that while M/HD vehicles make up only 10% of vehicles on Washington roads, they contribute disproportionately to pollution, including 30% of global warming emissions, 60% of NOx, and 50% of PM2.5 from on-road vehicles. The transition is projected to eliminate nearly 47 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2050 and generate $24.9 billion in cumulative net societal benefits by the same year.

The Healthy Air Campaign (HAC) advocates for the inclusion of Lords amendment 3 in the Environment Bill to set a legal target for PM2.5 air pollution of 10 µg/m3 by 2030. The briefing argues that current UK legal limits are double the 2005 WHO guidelines and that achieving the stricter target is feasible based on technical analysis. It highlights the severe public health impacts of PM2.5, including an estimated 40,000 premature deaths annually in the UK, and notes the economic burden of over £20bn per year. The document emphasizes that the UK risks losing its global leadership in air quality as the USA and EU move toward stricter standards.

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a colorless, flammable gas used primarily for sterilizing medical equipment and as a chemical building block. Classified as a carcinogen by the EPA and other bodies, chronic inhalation is linked to white blood cell cancers and breast cancer. The document highlights that EtO emissions disproportionately affect low-income communities and people of color, with some areas in Louisiana experiencing cancer risks over 200 times the EPA's acceptable levels. While the EPA has updated the Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing (MON) rule, the document argues that current regulations fail to require fenceline monitoring or a complete phaseout of the chemical, calling for stronger enforcement and the adoption of less toxic alternatives.

The document argues that expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is essential to combat illegal nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in London, which are nearly twice the legal limit. It details the expansion's scope, the specific vehicle emission standards required to avoid charges, and the projected health benefits, including the avoidance of 250,000 new cases of air pollution-related disease. The guide highlights that road transport, particularly diesel cars, is the primary source of NO2 pollution and emphasizes that low-income and minority communities are disproportionately affected by poor air quality. It also advocates for further measures, such as expanding the ULEZ to all of Greater London and adopting stricter World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for particulate matter (PM2.5).

The document advocates for the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London, scheduled for 25 October 2021, to address illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and the resulting public health risks. It highlights that air pollution disproportionately affects vulnerable groups and low-income households, while noting that without such policies, London would have taken 193 years from 2016 to meet legal NO2 limits. The briefing calls for further support through scrappage schemes and a comprehensive plan to tackle pollution hotspots near schools and hospitals.

The report documents the dangerous environmental conditions at the Homestead detention camp in Florida, which was used to detain thousands of migrant children between 2016 and 2019. It highlights the camp's location adjacent to a Superfund site contaminated with arsenic, lead, mercury, and other toxins, as well as its exposure to chronic noise from the Homestead Air Reserve Base. The authors argue that these conditions constitute environmental racism and demand the permanent closure of the facility and comprehensive environmental testing.

The analysis finds that the 'Infrastructure Bills' could reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,067 to 1,510 million metric tonnes by 2030, potentially putting the U.S. on track to meet its NDC of 50-52% below 2005 levels. The most critical drivers are the Clean Electricity Performance Program (CEPP) and clean energy tax credits, which together could drive the power sector to 70-85% clean generation. Additional benefits include the creation of 449,000 to 638,000 job-years and the avoidance of 4,600 to 7,000 premature deaths annually by 2030, with health benefits concentrated in communities of color.

Based on a quantitative mapping of OECD data from 2014 to 2018, the document identifies five primary failures in climate adaptation finance for Africa: insufficient funding levels compared to mitigation and actual needs, a lack of strategic targeting toward the most vulnerable countries, over-concentration in agriculture and water sectors, low disbursement rates of committed funds, and an over-reliance on loans rather than grants.

The Union of Concerned Scientists documents how the fossil fuel industry in Colorado employs four primary disinformation tactics—The Fix, The Diversion, The Screen, and The Fake—to maintain political control and undermine public health and safety. The report details the industry's use of front groups, lobbying, and misleading economic claims to thwart regulations and ballot initiatives, while highlighting the disproportionate impact of pollution on communities of color and low-income residents. It concludes with recommendations for state regulators to prioritize science and community voices over industry profits.

The YOUNGO Health Working Group emphasizes the critical link between planetary and human health, citing climate change as the greatest global health threat of the 21st century. The authors highlight the role of youth as frontline health workers and activists, calling for governments to integrate youth perspectives into UNFCCC and G20 preparations and to recognize climate change as a health emergency within their Nationally Determined Contributions.

The YOUNGO Health Working Group advocates for youth participation in a green post-COVID-19 recovery and UNFCCC negotiations, highlighting the link between planetary health and human health. The authors call for governments to treat climate change as a health emergency and increase their Nationally Determined Contributions to meet Paris Agreement objectives.

Civil society organisations are calling on the German government to support the classification of Resorcinol as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) under the REACH regulation. They argue that Resorcinol is a known endocrine disruptor that inhibits thyroperoxidase (TPO), affecting thyroid hormone levels essential for brain development, particularly in unborn children. The authors highlight that Resorcinol is a high-volume compound used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and rubber products, leading to significant exposure for workers and the public. They contend that the substance meets the 'equivalent level of concern' (ELoC) criteria due to the irreversible nature of its developmental effects, such as hypothyroidism and neurological impacts.

The document argues that Resorcinol should be identified as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH article 57(f) because it is an endocrine disruptor that inhibits thyroperoxidase (TPO), affecting thyroid hormone levels. The authors highlight severe developmental risks for unborn children, including hypothyroidism and neurological impacts, and note that the substance is a high-volume compound used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and rubber products. They contend that the substance meets the 'equivalent level of concern' (ELoC) criteria and that failure to identify it would undermine the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

A coalition of civil society organisations is calling on the Polish government to support the classification of Resorcinol as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) under the REACH regulation. The organisations argue that Resorcinol is a known endocrine disruptor that inhibits thyroperoxidase (TPO), affecting thyroid hormone levels essential for prenatal brain development. They highlight that the substance is a high-volume compound used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and rubber products, posing risks to workers and the public. The letter asserts that Resorcinol meets the 'equivalent level of concern' (ELoC) criteria due to the irreversible nature of its developmental effects, such as hypothyroidism and neurological impacts in children.