Advocating for health and climate

The health sector and fiscal policies of fossil fuels: an essential alignment for the health and climate change agenda

“…Despite health advocates’ voice and representation rising in recent years in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, the overarching COP governance structure leaves little space for health accountability, monitoring and obligation. Indeed, the current triangular framing of ‘mitigation’, ‘adaptation’ and the newly endorsed momentum towards rectifying ‘loss and damage’ does not recognise or prioritise the cobenefits of moving from fossil fuel subsidy to fossil fuel taxation 16. Cobenefits entail the notion of offset; improved air quality alone could realise health benefits that easily offset the global costs of emissions reductions 17.…”

“…Indeed, the current triangular framing of ‘mitigation’, ‘adaptation’ and the newly endorsed momentum towards rectifying ‘loss and damage’ does not recognise or prioritise the cobenefits of moving from fossil fuel subsidy to fossil fuel taxation. 16 Cobenefits entail the notion of offset; improved air quality alone could realise health benefits that easily offset the global costs of emissions reductions. 17 This would also include reduced consumption, with its associated health benefits.…”