The joint statement, published in NEJM, warns that rapidly rising global temperatures could bring “catastrophic harm to health that will be impossible to reverse.” “Despite the world’s necessary preoccupation with COVID-19, we cannot wait for the pandemic to pass to rapidly reduce emissions,” write the scientists who authored the editorial. The article praises governments, financial institutions, and businesses that have set net-zero emissions targets and goals aimed to protect at least 30 percent of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. The authors stress, however, that insufficient action could bring about global temperature increases of 2 degrees celsius (or 3.6 degrees F), which would create a “catastrophic outcome for health and environmental stability.” To avoid this, leaders are urged make every effort to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5 degree celsius (2.7 degrees F). In particular, the editorial urges governments to intervene to support the redesign of transport systems, cities, production and distribution of food, markets for financial investments, and health systems. Mary Prunicki, MD, PhD, the director of air pollution and health research at Stanford University’s Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy & Asthma Research, applauds the joint effort. “Climate change is probably impacting health now more than any other cause,” she says. “The higher the temperatures go, the worse it will get.” Even slight rises of a few degrees can cause damage health-wise, according to Dr. Prunicki. As the planet gets hotter, she says more elderly suffer from cardiovascular and respiratory issues and cases of childhood asthma increase. Prunicki points out that climate change can trigger a string of events that wreak havoc on health: Hotter temperatures spark more wildfires. Wildfires add to air pollution. Air pollution creates more respiratory ailments. Rising temps also have led to more flooding. Flooding can mean more mold, and if mold contaminates a water supply, that in turns causes more illness. As these problems climb, the healthcare system becomes overburdened. “Plus, you have more school absenteeism and loss of work,” says Prunicki. “All these factors affect families.” The editorial concludes that urgent, society-wide changes must be made and will lead to a fairer and healthier world: “We, as editors of health journals, call for governments and other leaders to act, marking 2021 as the year that the world finally changes course.”
