Climate change is already having widespread impacts on human health. As frontline health workers, we are increasingly responding to health emergencies triggered by the climate crisis. Yet in the face of increasing harm and suffering, new fossil fuel resources continue to be developed and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.
If we are to have any chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C and halting the escalation of the climate health emergency, we must end the proliferation of fossil fuels.
The World Health Organization has called for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and an end to fossil fuel subsidies.
We, therefore, join these calls, and urge all Governments to adopt the following as urgent health interventions:
• End expansion of any new fossil fuel infrastructure and production.
• Phase out existing production and use of fossil fuels.
• Remove fossil fuel subsidies and invest in renewable energy.
• Fast track a just transition that addresses the needs of individuals, communities and countries to move away from fossil fuel energy systems towards more diverse, resilient and inclusive economies powered by renewable energy.
WONCA World shares this call on behalf of the WONCA Working Party on Planetary Health.
This call has been endorsed by the following organisations, representing 3 million health professionals.
World Organization of Family Doctors
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Academy of Family Physicians of India
Associação Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar (APMGF)
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
Australian Medical Students’ Association
Australian Society of Lifestyle Medicine
Brazilian Society of Family and Community Medicine
Brazilian Society of Family and Community Medicine Planetary Health Working Group
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
Climate and Health Alliance
College of Family Physicians of Canada
College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka
Danish College of General Practice
Doctors for the Environment Australia
European Association of Quality and Safety in General Practice/Family Medicine Fiji College of General Practitioners
German Alliance for Climate Change and Health (KLUG)
Green Practice Japan
Hausärzteverband Hessen e.V.
Healthy Futures
International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations
International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services
International Society of Doctors for the Environment Italy
Irish College of General Practitioners
Irish Doctors for the Environment
Izmir University of Economics, Faculty of Medicine
Kosrae Community Health Center, Federated States of Micronesia
National Izmir Family Physicians Association, İZAHED
OraTaiao: The New Zealand Climate and Health Council
Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians
Public Health Association of Australia
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Royal College of General Practitioners
Swedish College of General Practice (SFAM)
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
Turkish Association of Family Doctors (TAHUD)
Turkish Thoracic Society
UK Health Alliance on Climate Change Your Community Health
