Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health

Abstract

This article is published as an initiative organized by the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC) through the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) and the members of the Latin American Working Group on Climate Change and Health. The call has a double aim: on the one hand, that world leaders agree on the necessary changes for global temperature rise to be kept below 1.5°C; on the other hand, that health professionals become more relevant in the global discussion on climate crisis and biodiversity loss. This call takes place within the context of the next United Nations General Assembly starting on 14th September 2021 and the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which will be held this year in Glasgow. 

This article, mainly co-authored by editors of 18 prestigious scientific journals that are broadly representative of the continents and health disciplines across the world, has been simultaneously published in more than 200 international scientific journals (https://www.bmj.com/content/full-list-authors-and-signatories-climate-emergency-editorial-september-2021). Revista Argentina de Salud Pública takes part in the joint initiative by publishing the Spanish version of the article, in order to spread its content in the countries of the region. 

Moreover the editorial expresses the need to restore biodiversity and protect health, while high-income countries must further cut their carbon emissions and provide funds to low- and middle-income countries. It also urges governments to intervene to support the redesign of transport systems, cities, production and distribution of food, markets for financial investments, health systems, and much more, which can realise vast positive health benefits.