COP27 climate change conference: urgent action needed for Africa and the world

Abstract

Wealthy nations must step up support for Africa and vulnerable countries in addressing past, present, and future impacts of climate change

Seven days in medicine: 12-18 October 2022

“…More than 250 health journals around the world, including The BMJ , published an editorial urging world leaders to deliver climate justice for Africa ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt next month 3. The authors say that Africa has suffered disproportionately despite doing little to cause the crisis.…”

Health and climate crises will shape Sunak’s legacy

“…His family’s immediate past is rooted in Africa, which is now demanding climate justice in the form of compensation (doi:10.1136/bmj.o2459). 18 That’s a cause that a new international leader whose history straddles the rich and poor worlds could readily champion. Sunak is known for his surefooted fiscal policy making but will be remembered for the vision that he stands for and how successful he is in moving the UK and world towards it.…”

Truth and Transparency, Compromise and Climate Change

“…- -----------------------------------------------------------------On another front, the Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery has agreed to co-publish an editorial calling on wealthy countries to do more to support Africa and other vulnerable nations in mitigating the impact of climate change on health. 8 The guest editorial in this issue is authored by the editors of 16 African health journals, and is co-published by 259 international journals, including The Lancet, British Medical Journal, New England Journal of Medicine, National Medical Journal of India, and Medical Journal of Australia and the Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (see http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/october/Journals.pdf).…”

“…The authors, say, Africa has suffered disproportionately although it has done little to cause the crisis and urges wealthy nations to step up support for Africa and vulnerable countries in addressing past, present and future impacts of climate change. 8 They explain that the climate crisis has had an impact on the environmental and social determinants of health across Africa, leading to devastating health effects. In West and Central Africa, for example, severe flooding resulted in mortality and forced migration from loss of shelter, cultivated land, and livestock, while extreme weather damages water and food supply, increasing food insecurity and malnutrition, which causes 1.7 million deaths annually in Africa.…”

“…In West and Central Africa, for example, severe flooding resulted in mortality and forced migration from loss of shelter, cultivated land, and livestock, while extreme weather damages water and food supply, increasing food insecurity and malnutrition, which causes 1.7 million deaths annually in Africa. 8 Changes in vector ecology brought about by floods and damage to environmental hygiene has also led to increases in malaria, dengue fever, Ebola virus, and other infectious diseases across sub-Saharan Africa. 8 In all, it is estimated that the climate crisis has destroyed a fifth of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the countries most vulnerable to climate shocks.…”