Introduction by Croakey: Ahead of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement (12 December), board members of the Global Climate and Health Alliance have published an article today urging health professionals and organisations to step up their climate advocacy.
“A stable climate is the most fundamental determinant of human health,” they write in The Journal of Climate Change and Health.
“Therefore, the goal of the Paris Agreement—limiting global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius—is arguably humanity’s most important public health goal.”
It is also a timely moment for reflecting on the role of the media in contributing (or not) to effective climate action. The global Covering Climate Now collaboration has kicked some significant goals since last year.
See a recent Twitter thread of related news, including a recent discussion by leading United States journalists on reporting on climate with the observation that “Let’s always remember that the truth is not necessarily halfway between the contending sides”.
Also read about the role of Facebook in undermining climate action.
Croakey has been grateful for the opportunity to participate and contribute as we outline in the poster below, presented virtually by Associate Professor Megan Williams at the the World Congress on Public Health in October, with co-authors Marie McInerney, Dr Summer May Finlay and Dr Melissa Sweet. (Click here for closer viewing).
