Despite scant and discouraging media coverage of the United Nation’s Climate Change talks in Cancun last December, a number of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and health and medical groups can attest that COP16 was in fact good for human health. Movement towards greater inclusion of health in global climate change decisions at the meetings in Cancun was in large part catalyzed by energetic new projects and partnerships among NGOs based in Europe, Africa and the US and the increasing evidence of both the health impacts from climate change and the increasingly quantified health benefits of ambitious climate action.
CHE hosted three active leaders in that process in this teleconference call to share how the momentum from Copenhagen to Cancun is being carried forward into 2011 towards collaborative activities promoting health in the run up to COP17 in Durban, South Africa, and beyond. In particular, the speakers focused on ways CHE partners and anyone concerned with these issues can become involved in projects that support putting health at the heart of climate negotiations and decisions.
Featured Speakers
- Dr. Pendo Maro, Senior Climate and Energy Advisor, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)
- Dr. Lynn Wilson, Executive Director, SeaTrust Institute
- Pastor Peters Omoragbon, Chairman, Board of Trustees (USA), Nurses Across Borders
Update 2/11/11: Pastor Peters Omoragbon has submitted his written remarks as he was unable to make the call as scheduled. His remarks are available at the background information/resources link above.