How can companies move to protect the planet’s health?
A recent report by a leading medical publication has found that climate change is severely impacting people health globally.
The report in the Lancet Countdown says the world's continued reliance on fossil fuels increases the risk of food insecurity, infectious disease and heat-related illness. Worldwide people are seeing their health impacted by the effects of climate change, and at the same time feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis.
The 2022 report was published in leading medical journal The Lancet this week, which has been released ahead of next month's major UN climate conference COP27 in Egypt.
Despite climate commitments companies are still prioritising fossil fuels over a healthy future for the our planet. In response to the report, UN Secretary General António Guterres said that global leaders and companies must match action to the size of the problem.
The report goes on to say that taking urgent action, including moving away from from fossil fuels and towards clean energy, could save millions of lives and enable people to 'not only survive, but thrive’. Depending on fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas to provide energy, it states, is a threat to global health not only due to climate change, but also due to the shakiness of the market.
How can companies move to protect the planet's health?
The report states that, immediately prioritising a health-centered approach could provide the opportunity for a low-carbon, resilient future, which not only avoids the health harms of accelerated climate change, but also delivers improved health and wellbeing through the associated co-benefits of climate action.
By rapidly moving away from fossil fuels and shifting quickly to clean energy sources, energy security could be improved, the chance of the most catastrophic climate change impacts could be decreased and improved air quality would reduce the deaths associated with pollution.
The Lancet Countdown report shows that countries and companies continue to make choices that threaten the health and survival of people in every part of the world. As countries devise ways to recover from the coexisting crises, the evidence is unequivocal.
Is your business ready to be a climate change champion?
If you want to demonstrate to your suppliers that you embrace sustainability and ensure compliance with the The Environmental Act 2021 and the 17 UN Sustainability goals, then sign up for our Climate Emergency Training Courses all of which are accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project.
Each attendee will gain accreditation on completion of the course plus the successful assessment of an Action Plan outlining the steps that will be taken to combat climate change. Becoming accredited shows your company cares about climate change, and that you continue to expand your understanding of ways to combat it.