Action Against Climate Change Can Result In Health, Economic Benefits

Huffington Post: Action on Climate Change Creates a Circle for Health and Economic Growth
Flavia Bustreo, WHO assistant director general for family, women’s, and children’s health, and vice chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, incoming chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

“…[C]ountries that take the most assertive action to reduce climate pollutants of all sorts — short and long-lived — may also benefit the most health-wise, socially, very immediately, and in terms of their economic growth. … The savings in health and health care costs enjoyed by shifting to low-carbon and renewable energy sources have been estimated in the trillions of dollars by the International Monetary Fund, offsetting by far the costs of new investments. And a healthier population can help spur healthy economic growth — growth delinked from carbon emissions. … [B]y cutting carbon emissions, countries can save lives and free up huge sums to help finance action against climate change. These are compelling reasons to make health a cornerstone of the work that begins in the new reality introduced by the COP21 Paris Agreement” (12/31).

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