A Call to Action by Health Professionals

Abstract

To achieve the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement-limiting global warming to no more than 2 °C (and if possible 1.5 °C)-and thereby avoid the most harmful impacts of climate change to human health and well-being, the global community must dramatically reduce its use of fossil fuels in the very near future (Allen et al., 2018; Figueres et al., 2017). This goal can be achieved if global carbon emissions peak by 2020, and fall rapidly to near zero over the next several decades (Rockstrom et al., 2017; Rogelj et al., 2018). Approximately half of the necessary emissions reductions have already been pledged by the nations of the world in the Paris Agreement, assuming that all nations remain in the agreement. If success is to be achieved, nations must collectively double current global commitments over the next few years. Realizing the 1.5° goal will require even bolder action (Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2018). Building the political will necessary for this to happen will not be easy, but doing so is imperative. Health professionals are in a unique position to help build the necessary political will.