Why climate change health policy needs ethics to achieve health equity and climate ȷustice—a call to action

It is incontrovertible that anthropogenic climate change is driving a range of serious threats to human health.1 Over 1700 people died in the 2022 floods in Pakistan, with 33 million people affected2; the 2022 European heatwave killed 15 000 people.3 Both events are linked to climate change.4 There is broad consensus that climate change will increase threats from emerging infectious diseases—covid-19 made potential consequences clear.5 Food and water security will come under greater pressure with inevitable harms to human populations.6 Forced migration will bring known health risks.7 These threats are so sustained, widespread, and serious that the need for a strong health voice in climate change policy is clear.8Less acknowledged is that health policy must address serious ethical challenges. Climate change mitigation requires systemic change to methods and habits of production and consumption.9 Tackling climate change can bring a range of significant social and economic co-benefits—consider the public health benefits…
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