Experts sounded the alarm on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland over the serious health consequences of climate change.
Shyam Biswayn, head of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Health and Health, said:
“If we continue on the current trajectory, we will end up with 14.5 million deaths by 2050 because of climate change.”
His words came at a high-level panel discussion titled “When Climate Redefines Health.”
South African Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen emphasised the threat to food security. He said:
“When the food systems become under threat, it starts to pose a significant health risk as well to human beings across the globe.”
According to Celeste Saulo, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), only 23 countries currently use climate information to monitor health, calling for closer collaboration between meteorological and health agencies.
John Arnay, CEO of the Wellcome Trust, called for “climate and health data to really inform our climate action” through better data and research.
Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, emphasised the need to address the health impacts of extreme heat, air pollution and the spread of tropical diseases due to climate change.
António Guterres endorsed the theme chosen by the organisers of the forum, regretting that he sees no signs of cooperation or intellectual approach to solving common problems in the world today. On the contrary, conflicts, inequalities and human rights violations are only increasing, the UN chief said.
Nuclear war is no longer the only threat, Guterres said. Today the world faces two new dangers: the climate crisis and the rapid uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence.
The Secretary-General compared humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels to Frankenstein’s monster, which spares no one. He drew attention to the fact that the world’s 13 largest ports, through which oil and gas are transported, could be flooded due to rising sea levels caused by global warming resulting from the burning of coal, oil and gas.
The secretary-general also noted that some companies and financial institutions are reneging on their climate commitments. This, he said, is short-sighted, selfish and will lead to more problems. He also added:
“You are going against history, science and the desires of consumers who demand sustainable development.”
The panellists emphasised that tackling the health crisis caused by climate change will require a coordinated multi-stakeholder approach involving governments, the private sector and civil society.
