Alistair Wardrope: Putting health and climate justice at the heart of COP 26
December 11, 2020
Climate breakdown, “the greatest threat to global health of the 21st century” is driven by the same political and economic systems that are exacerbating health inequities, so starkly amplified by covid-19. The UK Government’s recent announcements appear to acknowledge the imperative to tackle the “twin problems of social inequalities and climate change.” However promises of a “green industrial revolution”, or last week’s “ambitious” emissions reductions pledge, fail to acknowledge the true scale of the challenge, or of the UK’s historical responsibility. As the UK prepares to host the 26th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) the first global reassessment of emissions reductions commitments since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015 it should show true ambition in adopting policies that prioritise the health and wellbei