Our Pledge |
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...To protect health through active engagement to limit the causes of human-caused climate change...
1. Background:
GOAL
To help guide the position of UK, European, and other Governments in post-Kyoto framework discussions (COP 15) in Copenhagen Nov/Dec 2009.
Phase 1: October 2008 - March 2009
10,000 doctors and health professionals sign up to the high level pledge of the Climate and Health Council.
Phase 2: April – June 2009
Public campaign initiated: "10,000 UK doctors and health professionals signatories to declaration that urgent government-led international action on climate change is essential to the health and survival of this and future generations".
Such activity will be supported by other specific actions, as outlined below.
2. We pledge:
- to protect health through active engagement to limit the causes of human-caused climate change
Tackling climate change and ending poverty are the two most important, urgent priorities to ensure global health, justice and survival for present and future generations.
- in this regard, to advocate
- the establishment of a global, systematic, and consistent approach, led and implemented by governments NOW, based on an agreed global framework
- the redistribution of resources
A consistent and equitable framework will promote the health, social justice, and survival of current and future generations, both rich and poor, both locally and globally.
3. We believe that:
This framework must have three components:
a) A scientifically-assessed and globally binding commitment to cap and reduce carbon emissions to avoid atmospheric concentrations greater than 450ppm ,recognising that this target may be subject to revision in light of further scientific information.
b) A mechanism for ensuring that resources are transferred to those countries where both living standards and fossil fuel use have been low. These resources include those needed to enable population stabilisation.
c) An approach to development which, by giving people the capability of making low carbon choices, minimises green house gas emissions.
We will support actions that have these three ingredients. They are, for example, built into the 'fair shares' Contraction and Convergence framework articulated by the Global Commons Institute (www.GCI.org.uk). If other frameworks emerge which have these three ingredients, we would support them too.
This pledge is underpinned by our Declaration (see 4 below) and supported by a series of actions which provide documented support for our position (see 5 below).
4. Declaration
We as health professionals and health managers, concerned about the effects of climate change on global health and the environment...
Click here to see the full text of the Climate and Health Council Declaration
5. Building support for our position
We are developing five main ways to broaden and document support for our position:
a) We have initiated the development of a high profile report which will outline the health and economic costs of inaction on climate change, and the benefits of mitigation. This report is intended to inform discussions (at national and international level) in the run up to Copenhagen.
b) We are seeking to expand the number individual and organisational signatories to our declaration, and to increase their geographical spread.
c) We are developing links with other professional groups, the private sector, government departments, and NGOs
d) We are establishing a personal carbon trading group, in collaboration with the Royal Society of Arts.
e) We are collaborating with the NHS Sustainable Development Unit to secure the active involvement of all 500 NHS Trusts in England
We encourage those who have signed the pledge to:
a) Join the CARBON CAP AND TRADE SCHEME, and so measure your CO2 emissions and start trading.
b) Join the Climate and Health Council. This costs £10 for an individual and £50 for an organisation.