In the second of four Comments that accompanies the Series, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan says: "The contagion of our mistakes shows no mercy and makes no exceptions on the basis of fair play. For example, countries that have contributed least to greenhouse-gas emissions will the first and hardest hit by climate change."
Dr Chan says that the first steps are clear—namely that strengthening health systems, and widening coverage of cheap and proven public health interventions to control climate-sensitive diseases, would accelerate progress towards the MDGs.
Regarding governments reaching an agreement in Copenhagen, Dr Chan says there are three clear messages from the health community: "First, climate change is a fundamental threat to health. Second, strengthening control of diseases of poverty is essential to protect the most vulnerable populations, and is a safe investment for adaptation resources for climate change. Third, as this Series shows, cutting greenhouse-gas emissions can represent a mutually reinforcing opportunity to reduce climate change and to improve public health. Health protection should therefore be one of the criteria by which mitigation measures are judged."
She concludes: "Fundamentally we are all facing a choice about values: improving lives, protecting the weakest, and fairness. These are the same values that motivate public health, and the health community is a willing partner in addressing this challenge."
For Dr Margaret Chan, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland, please contact Nada Ossieran T) +41 22 791 4475 E) osseirann@who.int / MediaEnquiries@who.int
For full Comment, see: http://press.thelancet.com/tlhaccmc.pdf
Journal
The Lancet