Health as loss and damage under a changing climate

This year has seen wildfires, flash flooding, and the warmest month on record,1 a likely “new normal” as the consequences of climate change—primarily driven by burning fossil fuels for energy—unfold. Both extreme weather events—such as heatwaves and cyclones, and slowly unfolding crises—such as desertification and food insecurity, pose well described threats to our health and wellbeing.2 As such, this year’s UN annual climate conference (COP28, running from 30 November to 12 December 2023), will have an unprecedented focus on health in recognition that ill health is a key downstream consequence of inadequate climate policy, and that putting health at the centre of decision making can help drive decisive climate action.3Loss and damage caused by climate change will also be a central topic at COP28, after countries agreed in 2022 to create a fund that aims to respond to the worst climate impacts disproportionately affecting vulnerable developing countries.4 Loss and damage…
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