No abstract

The next decade is likely to produce any number of global challenges that will affect health and health care, including pan-national infections such as the new coronavirus COVID-19 and others that will be related to global warming. Nurses will be required to react to these events, even though they will also be affected as ordinary citizens. The future resilience of healthcare services will depend on having sufficient numbers of nurses who are adequately resourced to face the coming challenges.

These positive examples in recent years must not mask the dangerous consequences of failing to meet the Paris Agreement, the past two decades of relative inaction, the economies and sectors currently lagging behind, and the enormity of the task ahead, which leave achieving the Agreement's aims in a precarious position. Indeed, much of the data presented should serve as a wake-up call to national governments, businesses, civil society, and the health profession. However, as this report demonstrates, the world has already begun to embark on a path to a lowcarbon and healthier world. Whilst the pace of action must greatly accelerate, the direction of travel is set.